On June 27, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Chinese Communist Party announced the dismissal of Navy Chief of Staff Li Hanjun from his position as a national People’s Congress representative. Vice Admiral Miao Hua was also removed from his role as a member of the Central Military Commission. Analysts believe Li Hanjun may be involved in a political factionalism case related to Miao Hua, whose removal at this juncture indicates the pressure faced by his political ally, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, prior to the Beidaihe Conference.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the Standing Committee of the NPC meeting closed in Beijing on Friday, removing Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission. Miao Hua was relieved of his duty as a member of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China. Miao Hua, who also holds the position of a member of the Central Military Commission of the CCP, is expected to be removed at the upcoming Fourth Plenum of the CCP.
Last November, Miao Hua was suspended for “serious disciplinary violations” and in March of this year was dismissed from his role as a national People’s Congress representative.
Additionally, Navy Chief of Staff Li Hanjun was stripped of his position as a People’s Congress representative for the first time, confirming his involvement in the matter. Li Hanjun, 60, from Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, has had a distinguished career within the Navy, with various high-ranking positions.
In February and March of this year, Edwin Min, a dissident commentator, revealed on his YouTube channel multiple instances of Li Hanjun, the Navy Chief of Staff, being under investigation by the authorities.
In analyzing the situation, it was pointed out that rumors of Li Hanjun’s involvement had surfaced since the official downfall of Miao Hua last year and the reported investigation of Defense Minister Dong Jun. Li Hanjun’s rapid advancement in his career is believed to have had connections with Miao Hua.
Miao Hua, aligned with Xi Jinping’s powerful Fujian 31st Group Army, rose through the ranks with Xi’s support, holding crucial positions. Observers suggest that Miao Hua’s downfall, along with the disappearances of key figures like the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong, and Li Hanjun’s incident, potentially point towards a significant political scandal involving collusion and power struggles.
Furthermore, the absence of four senior officers at the promotion ceremony to general rank held by the Central Military Commission in December, including figures closely associated with Miao Hua, has raised concerns. Among them, only Li Qiaoming appeared in a news report in March, with the others remaining out of the public eye for at least five months.
Exiled liberal legal scholar Yuan Hongbing had revealed that after Miao Hua’s arrest, a large number of senior military officers within the CCP were implicated, causing a panic within the military ranks.
Numerous officials associated with Xi Jinping and key positions in Fujian have fallen from grace, sparking speculations about Xi’s faction being targeted.
Recent information from authoritative sources obtained by Da Ji Yuan suggests that Xi Jinping had begun to lose influence as early as April 2024. While still maintaining a public presence, Xi’s power has waned, with figures like Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia becoming pivotal in China’s political landscape. Despite several attempts to regain control, Xi’s efforts have been met with failure, and he is believed to be merely going through the motions.
In addition to Miao Hua’s removal from the Central Military Commission, which led to Li Hanjun’s exposure, it appears that pressure has been mounting on Xi Jinping ahead of the Beidaihe Conference and the Fourth Plenum.
The annual Beidaihe Conference is expected to take place soon, given the heightened security along the route from Beijing to the coastal town of Beidaihe in Hebei Province. Reports indicate an increased presence of security personnel, suggesting that senior CCP officials may have started moving to the location.
In a recent article in Taiwan’s The Liberty Times, commentator Du Zheng disclosed information from two separate sources indicating unusual developments in Beijing, hinting at potential changes by autumn. These cryptic messages align with recent speculations and rumors circulating within political circles.
Du Zheng had previously mentioned the existence of underground movements among grassroots military officers in certain regions planning to incite a rebellion akin to the Wuchang Uprising. While uncertainties remain regarding their plans, the overarching belief is that as long as the CCP remains in power, China will continue to face a red calamity, necessitating the overthrow of the communist regime.