During the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held a central peripheral work conference in Beijing on April 8th and 9th, with nearly all members of the Politburo Standing Committee in attendance, except for Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, who has not been seen in public for a long time. Experts believe that He Weidong may have been implicated by the former Director of the Political Work Department of the Military Commission, Miao Hua, for buying his position in the Military Commission.
Footage from the CCP’s official CCTV news broadcast showed members of the Politburo sitting in the front row, including Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia, while Vice Chairman He Weidong was notably absent.
He Weidong, who also serves as a member of the Politburo, has not made any public appearances since the closing of the National People’s Congress on March 11. He was absent from an important meeting regarding the Taiwan Strait issue on March 14 and also missed a tree-planting event in Beijing on April 2, sparking various speculations.
Rumors about He Weidong being arrested after the National People’s Congress have been circulating online. The 68-year-old General He Weidong had a long military career in the 31st Group Army of the Nanjing Military Region before being promoted to Vice Chairman of the Military Commission at the 20th CCP Congress by Xi Jinping.
Chinese affairs expert Wang He told Epoch Times that there are two theories circulating. One suggests that the CCP is planning for a military operation against Taiwan, and He Weidong’s disappearance might be related to this plan. The other theory suggests that He Weidong, as a close ally of Xi Jinping, was taken down by his rival Zhang Youxia, indicating a loss of Xi’s command over the military.
“But I am more inclined to believe that He Weidong’s downfall is the result of Xi Jinping’s diminishing power within the military,” Wang He said.
Researcher Shen Mingshi from the Taiwan Institute for National Defense and Security Studies told Epoch Times that He Weidong’s absence from the recent CCP conference indicates that he may have been purged, although there has been no official announcement yet. It is likely that his movements are now restricted.
Shen Mingshi believes that the reason for He Weidong’s downfall could be Miao Hua implicating him, as he had reportedly offered money to Miao Hua.
Before He Weidong joined the Military Commission, Miao Hua had served as a member of a previous Central Military Commission and as the Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, overseeing military personnel matters.
Since July 2023, several senior military officials personally promoted by Xi Jinping have been investigated, including former Ministers of National Defense Wei Feng and Li Shangfu, and the Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua. The latest rumors suggest that multiple close allies of Xi, including He Weidong, are under scrutiny.
On April 8th, independent commentator Cai Shengkun stated in his media program that those investigated after April 2024 are all close allies of Xi. Among them, Xi’s chief aide and former Director of the General Office of the Military Commission Zhong Shaojun was transferred, diminishing his power. Miao Hua, Xi’s personnel operator in the military, was investigated, and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong is bound to be in trouble. The coordinated actions taken against these three, known as Xi Jinping’s “iron triangle” within the military, signify a direct challenge to Xi’s military authority.
Current affairs commentator Li Linyi told Epoch Times that the consecutive downfalls of Xi Jinping’s military confidants are likely framed under corruption charges but are actually outcomes of internal power struggles within the CCP.
Shen Mingshi told Epoch Times that if Miao Hua implicates many people, it could accelerate Xi Jinping’s early resignation. For example, if Xi steps down at the Fourth Plenary Session or if the party elders prevent him from a fourth term in 2027.