【Epoch Times News, December 24, 2024】The People’s Liberation Army Commission held a ceremony on December 23 to promote General Chen Hui to the rank of General. Chen Hui, the former political commissar of the military aerospace unit, has now assumed the position of Army political commissar. However, it was noted at the scene that not only was the former Army political commissar, General Qin Shutong, absent, but three other generals were also missing, causing speculation about the military’s internal dynamics.
Upon viewing the footage from China Central Television (CCTV) on that day, Xi Jinping appeared visibly solemn, with no hint of a smile throughout the entire event.
According to official reports, the promotion ceremony was attended by Vice Chairmen of the Military Commission Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, along with Commission Members Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin. CCTV footage showed the front two rows filled with generals, including Defense Minister Dong Jun, Minister of Equipment Development of the Military Commission Xu Xueqiang, Rocket Forces Political Commissar Xu Xisheng, Rocket Forces Commander Wang Houbin, Air Force Commander Chang Dingqiu, Air Force Political Commissar Guo Puxiao, and more. General Zhang Hongbing, the Political Commissar of the Armed Police Force, and General Ling Huanxin, the Political Commissar of the Military Academy, sat in the third row.
According to reports from Hong Kong’s Ming Pao, Chen Hui, who comes from the Air Force background, appeared for the first time in official reports as an Army political commissar. The whereabouts of former Army political commissar Qin Shutong remain unknown. CCTV footage from that evening’s news also did not show Army Commander Li Qiaoming attending the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily reported that four generals were absent, including Army Commander Li Qiaoming, former Army political commissar Qin Shutong, Navy political commissar Yuan Huazhi, and Armed Police Force Commander Wang Chunning. It is reported that back at the end of October, both Qin Shutong and Yuan Huazhi were notably absent from a senior-level provincial cadre meeting.
After closely examining CCTV footage and photos of the relevant generals, it was confirmed that the absences were indeed real.
Last year, a corruption scandal erupted within the Rocket Forces leading to the downfall of dozens of generals, including two Defense Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Feng, two Rocket Forces Commanders Li Yuchao and Zhou Yaning, and former Air Force Commander Ding Laihang, totaling five generals. This year, rumors emerged regarding the investigation and suspension of General Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission, further fueling speculations about more senior military officers facing scrutiny.
The four absent generals mentioned above are all 20th Central Committee members.
General Qin Shutong, born in November 1963, previously served as the Director and Deputy Political Commissar of the Political Department of the 31st Group Army stationed in Fujian Province, carrying the label of a favored member of Xi’s military circle. He later became the Political Commissar of the 1st Group Army, the 75th Group Army after military reforms, and the Director of the Army’s Political Work Department. In January 2022, Qin Shutong was promoted to Army political commissar and simultaneously advanced to the rank of General. In early September this year, multiple overseas social media sources indicated that General Qin Shutong, the then Army political commissar, was under investigation.
At 63 years old, Army Commander Li Qiaoming once served as the Commander of the 41st Group Army and the first Commander of the Northern Theater Command, before becoming the Northern Theater Commander. Following Miao Hua’s downfall, there were reports claiming that on December 18, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held a meeting announcing the dismissal of Army Commander Li Qiaoming, Political Commissar Zhao Lei, and Minister of Equipment Zou Geyin due to their alleged involvement in the Miao Hua case, subjecting them to investigation.
General Yuan Huazhi, aged 63, had previous roles such as the Political Commissar of the Navy Marine Corps, the Air Force Political Commissar of the Eastern Theater Command, and the Navy’s Deputy Political Commissar.
Former PLA Navy Lieutenant Colonel Yao Cheng stated on his personal media channel on November 28 that a joint investigation team formed by the CCP’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Military Commission was investigating the issues related to Miao Hua, focusing on personnel from the Navy, Eastern Theater Command, and who had prior affiliations. Both former Navy Political Commissars Qin Shengxiang and Yuan Huazhi, as well as Defense Minister Dong Jun, provided testimonies detrimental to Miao Hua.
Dong Jun has since made public appearances. Yuan Huazhi’s absence during General Chen Hui’s promotion ceremony may suggest he is facing scrutiny.
At 61 years old, Armed Police Force Commander Wang Chunning previously served as the Commander of the 12th Group Army and the Beijing Garrison Commander. He is the son of former Nanjing Military Region Deputy Political Commissar Wang Yongming. On November 21 of this year, during a nationwide video conference held by public security authorities, Wang Chunning was absent. Subsequently, online rumors claimed Wang Chunning was under investigation.
Miao Hua served as the Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission from 2017, was promoted to a member of the Military Commission, and was reelected in 2022, exercising significant authority over personnel matters in the military for seven years.
During this period, Li Qiaoming went from being the Northern Theater Commander to Army Commander and entered the Central Committee; Qin Shutong rose from the Director of the Army’s Political Work Department to Army political commissar and also entered the Central Committee; Yuan Huazhi advanced from being the Political Commissar of the Navy Marine Corps to the Air Force Political Commissar of the Eastern Theater Command, then returned to the Navy as Deputy Political Commissar, and subsequently became the Navy Political Commissar, also entering the Central Committee; Wang Chunning transitioned from the Beijing Garrison Commander to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Police Force and later became the Commander of the Armed Police Force, entering the Central Committee.
Following the 20th National Congress of the CCP, official media revealed that all Central Committee members were personally selected and approved by Xi Jinping, making them broadly considered as part of Xi’s loyal circle. According to protocol, these nominations had to pass through the scrutiny related to Miao Hua before being reported to Xi Jinping. Therefore, Miao Hua essentially acted as the “gatekeeper” in the military for the 20th Central Committee, with the most common transactions involving bribery and trading offices. The fact that these officials are facing troubles implies a lack of discernment on Xi’s part as well as a probable disdain towards Miao Hua.
Under Xi’s regime, the military purge is framed as targeting corruption, but in reality, it is more about loyalty to Xi. Having been in power for twelve years, Xi personally promoted 79 generals and subsequently ousted nearly ten of his own appointees, leading to widespread discontent within the military ranks. The grip on the gun is loosening in Xi’s hands, and perhaps the promotions are merely superficial acts.
(Epoch Times exclusive)