The Chinese military newspaper, after last month’s criticism of “military tigers” such as He Weidong and Miao Hua, today (13th) released another article on the He Weidong and Miao Hua cases, discussing anti-corruption, clearing political hidden dangers, and notably mentioning a “gunshot.” There are currently at least two versions of “internal conflicts in the military” regarding the interpretation of this major case within the Chinese Communist Party, involving the delicate relationship between Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia.
On November 13, the Chinese military newspaper published a commentary article discussing “political army building,” reiterating the handling of major cases involving He Weidong and Miao Hua. The article stated, “If the troublemakers are not thoroughly eliminated before the gun goes off, it will leave significant hidden dangers to political security, with unimaginable consequences in critical moments.”
Current events commentator Li Lin told Epoch Times that it is normal for the Chinese Communist Party to talk about anti-corruption, but emphasizing “significant political hidden dangers” and “thoroughly eliminating the troublemakers before the gun goes off” suggests a planned action, implying that the other party was about to make a move but was apprehended before acting, almost leading to a showdown.
Previously, the communique of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party on October 23rd confirmed the expulsion of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others from the Party, accusing them of “disloyalty” and “seriously undermining the Party’s principle of the Party commanding the gun and the regimen of the CMC Chairman.” The Chinese military newspaper released an editorial the following day stating that the “thorough investigation of the corrupt elements such as He Weidong and Miao Hua” effectively eliminated significant political hidden dangers.
Ming Ju, Honorary Professor of the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, analyzing on the program “Frontline of Politics and Economics,” pointed out that the Chinese military newspaper’s use of extremely harsh terms such as “disloyalty” and “seriously undermining the Party’s principle of the Party commanding the gun and the regimen of the CMC Chairman” goes far beyond accusations of corruption. It may involve disloyalty to the top leader, or even more serious political conspiracies.
The Chinese military newspaper’s article on the 13th emphasized that “corruption in the military will lead to a loss of combat effectiveness and self-destruction.” The more the Chinese military fights corruption, the stronger, purer, and more combat-effective it becomes.
Li Lin said that corruption damages military strength, which is clear to everyone, but the turmoil of this internal conflict has significantly weakened the military’s combat effectiveness and cohesion. The authoritarian system itself breeds corruption, and the Chinese Communist Party has entered a bizarre cycle of “the more anti-corruption, the more corrupt,” so now is the time to either anti-corruption or perish, as anti-corruption may also lead to the Party’s demise.
There have been two versions circulating recently regarding the insider details behind the He Weidong and Miao Hua case.
On November 9th, independent commentator Du Zheng first proposed a version in the “Shang Bao”: Xi Jinping first promoted his confidant Miao Hua to oversee the entire military personnel in an extraordinary manner, then promoted another confidant, He Weidong, to Political Bureau member and Vice Chairman of the CMC. Xi allowed Miao Hua and others to sell positions and turn a blind eye, objectively creating a chaotic trend of “promotions with illness.”
After assuming office, He Weidong started to expand his ambition and targeted Zhang Youxia for a weapons inventory check, leading to the investigation of a group of generals. The South China Morning Post reported that during the “Two Sessions” of the Chinese Communist Party in March 2024, He Weidong publicly stated in the military representatives’ meeting that he aimed to combat the “false combat capabilities” of the military. His target was the flawed equipment procured under Zhang Youxia’s supervision and deceptive behaviors within the troops during training.
Du Zheng stated that next, Zhang Youxia’s faction retaliated, reporting that He Weidong’s ally Miao Hua was selling positions, and Xi had to agree to investigate. Shortly after Miao Hua was “suspended for investigation,” He Weidong also suddenly “disappeared,” as He Weidong, a civilian-born individual, couldn’t compete with the old party player Zhang Youxia.
Furthermore, former Central Party School professor Cai Xia revealed another version on the self-media program “Fangfei Time”: this purge was not entirely led by Xi Jinping but initiated by Zhang Youxia as a preemptive political counterattack. The weapons inventory check and the eruption of a large-scale corruption case in the missile force had pressured Zhang Youxia, who didn’t sit idly and took the initiative: nine top generals, including He Weidong and Miao Hua, fell one after the other – this may be Zhang Youxia’s retaliatory action.
Cai Xia also disclosed: “He Weidong and Miao Hua had conspired to establish a ‘private army’ in the Tianjin corridor area that was not under the jurisdiction of any military region, to provide emergency armed forces for Xi Jinping. But the plan was discovered by Zhang Youxia, turning against them to cleanse them.”
At the Fourth Plenary Session, nine top generals were dealt with, Zhang Shengmin was promoted to Vice Chairman of the CMC but did not obtain a seat on the Politburo. Cai Xia stated that Xi and Zhang Youxia have temporarily reached a “terror balance” where neither can completely defeat the other, so they can only coexist temporarily.
Comparing these two insider versions, commentator Li Lin believes the former leans towards the struggle between confidants where Xi had to intervene, while the latter version involving He and Miao forming a private army aligned with Xi carries some elements of Xi’s involvement. He thinks that whether Xi actively or passively dealt with He Weidong and Miao Hua, this turmoil has almost destroyed Xi’s authority within the military.
On November 12th, Zhang Youxia wrote an article in the People’s Daily praising party leader Xi Jinping, mentioning Xi at least 20 times and proclaiming a comprehensive military overhaul to prevent being a “double-dealer,” practicing pseudo-loyalty, and upholding the core.
Li Lin told Epoch Times that due to recent rumors of Zhang Youxia’s increasing influence and dominance within the military, he might be making surface efforts under the pressure of internal strife and deliberately dispelling rumors. However, looking at the history of the CCP, high-ranking officials’ loyalty to the top leader is not always guaranteed in crucial times, and either he might be abandoned or might rebel against him in the future.