Rumors of internal turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military continue to circulate, with more and more senior military officials either officially falling from grace or disappearing or even committing suicide. Overseas scholars point out that within the opaque political system of the CCP, anything is possible. The recent large-scale purge within the CCP’s military has led to significant chaos, with three major focal points emerging.
On May 19, independent commentator Cai Shenzhen reported from Beijing that General He Hongjun, Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission of the CCP, attempted suicide while in custody. Despite emergency efforts at the 301 Hospital, he passed away on the afternoon of May 18.
Former Chinese media personality Zhao Lanjian had previously disclosed on an online platform on April 24 that on April 20 of this year, General He Hongjun, the Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, was taken away. Also taken in at the same time was Chen Jiang, the Director of the Political Work Department’s Cadre Bureau. On April 23, during the so-called national “double support conference” convened by the CCP authorities, He Hongjun was absent from the meeting.
Additionally, on May 16, the CCP held a national conference to commend contributions to assist the disabled. Traditionally attended by a military commission member in charge of political work, with Military Commission Political Work Department Director Miao Hua being implicated, this year’s event was temporarily overseen by the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhang Shengmin as a stand-in. Reports from Hong Kong media suggest that Zhang Shengmin may have taken dual leadership positions within the Military Commission’s Political Work Department, though this has yet to be confirmed.
An investigation by Epoch Times reporters found that out of the 79 senior generals personally promoted by Xi Jinping, at least 10 have either publicly fallen from grace or been removed from their positions. Additionally, rumors of their involvement in downfall incidents have surrounded at least 12 others, resulting in a casualty rate exceeding 20%. Many of these officials seem to have vanished after experiencing troubles.
Historian Li Yuanhua, currently residing in Australia, told the Epoch Times that due to the opaque nature of the CCP’s politics, these rumors may never receive official confirmation, but that does not mean they are untrue – anything is possible. “CCP officials, especially high-ranking ones, are always power-hungry. When they fall out of favor politically, they are crushed by their opponents. So this is no longer a normal anti-corruption campaign, but rather the result of a power struggle.”
Legal expert Yuan Hongbing, living in the United States, stated on May 20 to the Epoch Times that Zhang Shengmin led the massive purge starting from Li Shangfu to Wei Feng and then to the Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force, including the major case involving Miao Hua. With the Political Work Department of the Military Commission essentially paralyzed, it is possible for Zhang Shengmin to temporarily take charge of the CCP military’s Political Work Department.
“We previously disclosed that Miao Hua and his three secretaries implicated over 1,300 military officers of the rank of colonel and above, including nearly a hundred major generals and senior generals, as well as civilian military officers holding equivalent positions. The Political Work Department of the CCP military is a crucial department that oversees the organization of military officers, monitors the ideology of military officers, and handles various internal military propaganda activities. Therefore, it is currently being led by Zhang Shengmin.”
Yuan Hongbing quoted sources within the CCP system, stating that the entire military is currently in a state of panic and turmoil. He further explained that when problems arise within a CCP faction, those investigated include not only members of that faction but also individuals from other groups, leading to extreme confusion caused by the extensive purges within the military.
Yuan Hongbing also stated that the most terrifying punishments for fallen military officials within the CCP are not physical tortures like beatings or the tiger bench.
“The two most fearsome punishments are: one where they are deprived of sleep, locked in a room with an iron door, and intermittently startled awake by banging on the door with a hammer whenever they are about to doze off. Most people cannot withstand this for more than five days before suffering a mental breakdown. Another punishment is locking them in a solitary confinement room called a ‘live coffin,’ with no lighting except for a small round hole on the ceiling similar to a skylight, where food is dropped in from above daily. Excretion is done within the confined space, with a waterway running through it. Individuals detained in such a room generally crack and confess everything within seven days.”
He further mentioned that it is plausible for the CCP’s Central Military Commission Deputy Director of the Political Work Department, He Hongjun, to have committed suicide. When these high-ranking officials responsible for political work realize they are targeted for purging, to avoid brutal punishments and severe personal humiliation, they often choose suicide as they are fully aware of the horrors of the punishments awaiting them.
Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in an article for Taiwan’s “Up Media” on March 8, stating that the current trend in CCP officialdom is to deal with issues internally, with many individuals facing secret trials or even executions.
A former high-ranking official who defected to the United States in recent years, Zhou Guogang, previously mentioned to the Epoch Times that during a party course he attended, an official from the CCP National Military Commission mentioned that numerous officials were sentenced to death each year, although these instances are never made public.
Political commentator Chen Pokong, residing in the United States, recently analyzed in a web show that out of the seven members of the Military Commission, only four remain. Apart from Xi Jinping, who is the nominal Chairman of the Military Commission, the rest are aligned with Zhang Yuxia. “Zhang Yuxia is the First Vice Chairman of the Military Committee, Zhang Shengmin—the Secretary of the Discipline Commission, and Liu Zhenli, the Chief of the Joint Staff Department, who is Zhang Yuxia’s comrade from the Vietnam War, where they had a superior-subordinate relationship. These three have formed the largest faction within the military, effectively controlling military power.”
Researcher Shen Mingshi from the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies told the Epoch Times that the so-called struggle between corruption and anti-corruption within the CCP is actually a naked power struggle, especially among various factions. “Zhang Yuxia was potentially facing a purge last year, but after the Third Plenum, we can see his power resurgence and his grasp on significant military authority.”
Shen Mingshi added that the primary focal points of the current infighting within the CCP military are: firstly, the actual situation of these investigated senior officers surrounded by rumors, like He Weidong, who has been missing for some time – what treatment have they received, and is the question of their whereabouts even a concern anymore?
Secondly, Defense Minister Dong Jun, although having traveled abroad earlier, reportedly did not attend this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. These officers related to Miao Hua may have disclosed issues concerning him, but what will be the final outcome?
The third focal point is, with so many generals facing troubles, how will the escalating tensions surrounding China’s neighboring regions affect the CCP’s decision-making on potential military actions?