On May 19, independent commentator Cai Shenkun posted on social media X claiming that according to a source from Beijing, Lieutenant General He Hongjun, the Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), committed suicide while under investigation by the military discipline inspection commission. Despite emergency rescue efforts at the 301 Hospital, he passed away on the afternoon of May 18.
If He Hongjun, whom Xi Jinping personally promoted and trusted, is indeed being investigated and confirmed to have committed suicide, it would be another explosive piece of news that would severely impact Xi’s inner circle.
In recent years, there have been frequent power struggles within the top ranks of the CCP, often accompanied by abnormal deaths of high-ranking officials. Let’s summarize some of the abnormal deaths of party, government, and military officials in recent years.
In November 2017, Xinhua News Agency announced that former member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department, Zhang Yang, hanged himself at home on November 23 while under investigation for corruption related to former Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.
Similarly, in October 2018, Xinhua reported that Zhang Yang was expelled from the party and stripped of his military title of general due to disloyalty, dishonesty, corruption, and other misconduct.
In July 2023, it was reported that General Wu Guohua, the former Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force, passed away in Beijing due to an illness. A few days later, it was revealed by General Zhang Zhen’s son that Wu Guohua had hanged himself in the bathroom of his home on July 4.
The circumstances surrounding Wu Guohua’s death raised suspicions, especially considering his prestigious background and the lack of condolences from top military leaders. Speculations emerged linking his death to an ongoing investigation within the Rocket Force.
Moving forward to December 2024, it was announced that Yu Jianhua, the Secretary of the Customs Party Committee and Director General of the Customs Administration, passed away due to a sudden illness. The secrecy surrounding his death and the abrupt nature of the announcement raised questions regarding the circumstances.
Furthermore, in September 2023, it was revealed that the former Director of the Central Security Bureau and Lieutenant General Wang Shaojun had passed away in Beijing. The delayed official announcement and subsequent censorship of the news hinted at potential high-level political implications.
The mysterious deaths and sudden departures of these prominent figures, including the untimely passing of Li Keqiang, former Premier and member of the Politburo Standing Committee, in October 2023, have sparked widespread speculation and raised doubts about the transparency and accountability within the CCP’s highest echelons.
The pattern of internal power struggles and suspicious deaths within the CCP’s elite circles is a constant reminder of the ruthless nature of political infighting and the high stakes involved. As the factional conflicts appear to be closing in on Xi Jinping, the outcomes of these power struggles remain uncertain, possibly unfolding during the upcoming Fourth Plenum scheduled for the second half of the year.