The news about the arrest of Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, spread on November 24. Following this, on November 24, Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, and Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department, both senior generals of the CCP, were taken away for investigation. It was also reported that Major General Yao Danjiang, deputy director of the Air Force Political Department of the Central Theater Command, was also arrested. These reports have not been officially confirmed.
On November 25, on the overseas social media platform X, many individuals leaked the above information.
“Chia Chen Fang” wrote: “Issued on November 24, 2024 – Latest news: Senior General Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, has been taken down! Miao Hua is in, and some speculate that Lin Xiangyang is next, both are fierce supporters of Xi, being fellow Fujian natives. Indeed, the news has arrived, saying that yesterday Senior General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department, and Senior General Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, were taken in! At the same time, Major General Yao Danjiang, deputy director of the Air Force Political Department of the Central Theater Command, was also arrested. People are speculating whether Xi Jinping is about to lose power!”
“Eastern Invincible Baozi” wrote: “Zhang Yuxia has started to take action, coordinating with the veteran clique to take down Senior General Lin Xiangyang, Xi Jinping’s military appointee in the Eastern Theater Command! Yesterday, Senior General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department, and Senior General Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, were taken in one after another! At the same time, Major General Yao Danjiang of the Central Theater Command’s Air Force Political Department was also arrested.”
Whistleblower “He Shibai” wrote: “Taiwan hasn’t been attacked yet, but the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff Department, the Political Department, the Navy, the Rocket Forces, and various senior generals of the theater commands are being rapidly taken down.”
The above information has been widely circulated overseas, but has not yet been officially confirmed or responded to by the Chinese Communist Party.
Lin Xiangyang, a native of Fuqing, Fujian Province, a CCP member, and a senior general, currently serves as a member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP and the Commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the CCP military. He previously served as the commander of the Central Theater Command.
Lin Xiangyang was promoted to senior general in 2020 and to the rank of general on September 6, 2021.
On November 11, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on the X platform that Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission, Director of the Political Work Department of the Military Commission, and a senior general of the Navy, was taken away by the Central Military Commission’s discipline inspection committee the day before.
Cai Shenkun stated that Miao Hua’s trouble this time indicates a heavy blow to the Fujian faction in the military that Xi Jinping appreciates.
On the same day, former Colonel Officer of the Chinese Navy, Yao Cheng, also stated on the X platform that the internal struggle within the CCP’s Central Military Commission has escalated and become public, with member of the Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua being taken away for investigation.
This disclosure has not yet been confirmed by the Chinese Communist Party, but since last year, several military leaders, including Rocket Force Commander Li Yuchao, have been reported to be in trouble overseas and later confirmed.
Both Cai Shenkun and Yao Cheng, who currently live in the United States, have connections within the Chinese Communist system and often provide relatively accurate information.
After the news of Miao Hua’s arrest came out, it is widely believed that a large number of senior generals promoted by Miao Hua, including the newly appointed Minister of National Defense and Senior General Dong Jun of the Navy, will also be affected.
On November 21, Wang Xiaohong, Secretary of the Communist Party Secretariat and Minister of Public Security, chaired a nationwide video conference of public security agencies. An article by political commentator Zhou Xiaohui stated that Senior General Wang Chunning, commander of the People’s Armed Police, did not attend the meeting, and the person sitting to the left of Wang Xiaohong became Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing of the People’s Armed Police Force.
In the previous three nationwide video conferences of the CCP’s Public Security Bureau, the person sitting to the left of Wang Xiaohong was Wang Chunning. This personnel change this time may not be simple.
Wang Chunning is a princeling, who has worked with Miao Hua in the military and was appointed by Xi Jinping as commander of the Beijing Garrison and commander of the People’s Armed Police. He has always been considered a confidant of Xi.
Zhou Xiaohui speculated that Wang Chunning’s absence from the public security meeting may be due to Miao Hua’s investigation or Xi losing military power, leading to Wang Chunning, a close ally of Xi, losing influence.