The power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military has taken a new turn. The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee concluded this afternoon, with the official communique revealing that only Zhang Shengmin was appointed as vice chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission (CMC), while the Minister of National Defense, Dong Jun, did not join the CMC.
During the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, it was confirmed that 14 individuals, including He Weidong, had been expelled from the CCP. Among them were 10 members of the Central Committee and 4 alternate members of the Central Committee.
Significant changes have occurred within the 20th CMC, with the appointment of Zhang Shengmin as the Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission.
Prior to this, He Weidong, along with former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu, and former Director of the Political Work Department of the CMC, Miao Hua, who had already fallen from grace, the 20th Central Military Commission saw the departure of 3 members.
It was expected by observers that the fourth plenary session would be an opportunity to adjust and complement the leadership of the Central Military Commission. Dong Jun, who became Minister of National Defense in December 2023, was thought to have a chance to join the CMC, but now it has been confirmed that these speculations were unfounded.
Following the adjustments made during the fourth plenary session, Xi Jinping remains as the Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, and Zhang Youxia continues as the Vice Chairman of the CMC. Zhang Shengmin has been promoted from a member of the Central Military Commission to Vice Chairman. The only other member of the CMC is Liu Zhenli, the Chief of Staff of the CMC General Staff Department.
Zhang Youxia, 75 years old, is from Weinan, Shaanxi Province. He has served as Vice Chairman of the 19th and 20th Central Military Commission. Due to his background as a second-generation revolutionary, he has been considered a trusted veteran by Xi Jinping. However, in the power struggles within the CCP military since 2023, Zhang Youxia has been accused of undermining Xi Jinping under the support of veteran CCP leaders.
Born in 1958, Zhang Shengmin, a native of Wugong, Shaanxi, and a Lieutenant General in the Rocket Force, is a member of the 19th and 20th Central Committees of the CCP, and he has held various positions within the party’s disciplinary and military commissions. Zhang Shengmin is widely seen as an ally of Zhang Youxia, and it is believed that he orchestrated the removal of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and other close allies of Xi Jinping.