The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is experiencing ongoing internal turmoil, with rumors of high-ranking military officials falling from grace persisting. A thorough review revealed that since Xi Jinping took office as the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, 79 generals have been promoted to the rank of Senior General. However, at least 10 of them have been publicly ousted or dismissed, and another 12 are embroiled in rumors of downfall, accounting for over 20%.
On May 8, 2025, a special lecture session for leading officials in the Chinese Communist Party’s political and legal system commenced. CCTV footage showed the conspicuous absence of two key figures, Wang Renhua, a member of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Senior General of the CCP, and Secretary of the Military Commission’s Political and Legal Affairs Committee, along with Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning.
On May 7, 2025, pro-democracy activist Yin Ke revealed through his X platform account (@EdwinHChiang) that Wang Renhua and Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing of the Armed Police were under investigation.
Since the end of 2024, Wang Chunning, the Commander of the Armed Police, has been conspicuously absent from political and public security meetings. On December 2, 2024, Chinese media figure Zhao Lanjian had already disclosed on X platform that Wang Chunning had been arrested.
Over the past two years, many Chinese military leaders have disappeared for a period, with revelations first coming from overseas sources before being confirmed. The official response to their cases has been low-profile, with some only being relieved of their duties.
Independent commentator Du Zheng, in an article for Taiwan’s “Up Media” on March 8, pointed out that the current trend in the Chinese Communist Party’s official circles is to handle matters internally, with many individuals facing secret trials and even executions.
On November 28, 2024, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian announced at a routine press conference that Central Military Commission Member and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua had been “suspended for examination”. On April 30, 2025, Miao Hua’s position as a National People’s Congress delegate was revoked.
After the conclusion of this year’s “Two Sessions” in March, Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong went missing, with Zhao Lanjian subsequently reporting his arrest. A report from the Financial Times on April 10 disclosed that He Weidong had been dismissed and was undergoing interrogation.
Zhao Lanjian further disclosed on April 24 that a “political grouping” case involving Miao Hua and He Weidong had been reported across the military, with the charges being particularly severe, leading to a harsh crackdown within the military.
Commentator Li Yanming, in an article for the Epoch Times on May 12, suggested that Wang Renhua, who had been heavily promoted by Miao Hua, was notably absent from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission meeting, indicating potential involvement in Miao Hua’s case. The Fourth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party is expected to convene this autumn, where the cases of Miao Hua and He Weidong are likely to be exposed, potentially escalating a large-scale military cleanup operation.
Comparing the military personnel appointments during the tenures of Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping: Jiang promoted 79 Senior Generals, Hu promoted 45, while Xi has promoted 79 so far.
An investigation by Epoch Times revealed that among the 79 Senior Generals personally promoted by Xi Jinping, at least 10 have been dealt with.
These include former Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe, former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu, former Commander of the Air Force Ding Laihang, former commanders of the Rocket Force Li Yuchao and Zhou Yaning, as well as Miao Hua, a member of the Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department, who was relieved of his duties before reaching the retirement age, along with former Strategic Support Force Commander Ju Qiansheng and former Rocket Force Political Commissar Xu Zhongbo (both under investigation but not publicly acknowledged).
Senior Generals who faced repercussions earlier include former Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Command Wei Liang and former Commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Xu Fenlin, who were reportedly demoted and retired by Hong Kong media “Ming Pao” in 2018.
In the last two years, 12 individuals have been implicated in rumors of downfall, including Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong, former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong, Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi, former Military Commission Office Director Qin Shengxiang, Western Theater Command Commander Wang Haijiang, Eastern Theater Commander Lin Xiangyang, former Southern Theater Commander Wang Xiubin, Military Commission Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary Wang Renhua, Deputy Director of the Political Work Department He Hongjun, Armed Police Force Commander Wang Chunning, Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing, and Rocket Force Commander Wang Houbin.
In a media program on May 12, American political commentator Chen Pokong stated that most of the previous rumors of high-ranking military officials falling from grace have turned out to be true. He suggested that with nearly all Senior Generals appointed during Xi Jinping’s 13-year tenure ending up in prison, there seems to be a concerted effort against Xi Jinping.
Chen Pokong expressed, “I believe that the downfall of those promoted by Xi Jinping is largely the work of anti-Xi forces; however, another viewpoint suggests that Xi Jinping is targeting these individuals within the military, essentially opposing his own choices since they were personally selected by him.”
According to Chen Pokong, if Xi Jinping is purging these individuals to combat corruption in preparation for an attack on Taiwan, it would be a grave mistake, as China lacks democratization and checks and balances, and corruption is systemic. Opposition against Xi Jinping will ultimately lead to more difficulties for himself.
Commentator Tang Jingyuan analyzed on a media program that the recent top-down cleanup from the Deputy Chairman of the Military Commission and below seems to specifically target Xi Jinping’s allies, with key figures from other factions remaining secure. He questioned how a reasonably prudent General Secretary could make the mistake of arresting all of their own people within the military.
Former Chinese Navy Lieutenant Colonel Yao Cheng wrote on May 12 on X platform, “The current extent of Xi Jinping’s power dynamics remains contentious, with power divided among the party, government, and military. I believe he has lost control over the military authority, with almost all his proteges within the military falling from grace. Despite remaining as the Chairman of the Military Commission, he no longer holds effective military sway and is currently in a position of having military authority but lacking military might…”