Former member of the CCP Politburo and former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xu Qiliang, passed away in Beijing on June 2, 2025 at the age of 75 due to illness, according to reports from CCP state media.
On June 3, Hong Kong media “Sing Tao Daily” quoted a message revealed by veteran Beijing media person Ma Ling on social media, stating that Xu Qiliang suffered a sudden heart attack while exercising in the courtyard in the morning and couldn’t be saved after being rushed to the hospital.
Former Chinese media person Zhao Lanjian disclosed on social media platform X on May 31 that news of Xu Qiliang’s death had surfaced in the early hours of May 28, with internal rumors attributing it to a “heart attack.” However, a message he received from a military informant indicated a more complex situation: possibly due to prolonged high pressure and in line with the pre-war cleaning rhythm in the Taiwan Strait, Xu Qiliang was “cleared” and marginalized, leading to extreme panic and his sudden collapse.
Former Chinese Navy commander Colonel Yao Cheng posted on X on June 3 expressing suspicion that Xu Qiliang was “eliminated.”
Some have likened Xu Qiliang’s death to the mysterious death of former CCP Politburo Standing Committee member and State Council Premier Li Keqiang, calling Xu Qiliang “another Li Keqiang.”
Given the current rapidly changing political situation in the CCP, Xu Qiliang’s sudden death as the former second-in-command of the military has raised questions and is not unexpected.
Xu Qiliang’s sudden death raises at least three major suspicions:
Xu Qiliang was born in Linqu, Shandong in 1950 and joined the military at the age of 16 after being selected as a pilot candidate at Linqu No. 4 Middle School. He joined the CCP in 1967 and became a senior pilot in the Air Force. He performed a flight show over Tiananmen Square during Deng Xiaoping’s military parade in 1984.
Xu Qiliang’s career in the military was smooth sailing: he became a division commander at the age of 33 in 1983; became the Deputy Commander of the Air Force at 34; served as the Commander of the Eighth Air Force at 40; appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force at 44; promoted to Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Central Military Commission at 54; became a member of the Central Military Commission and Air Force Commander at 57, reaching the rank of Air Force General; promoted to CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission at the age of 62 in 2012; and re-elected as CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2017.
Xu Qiliang officially retired in March 2023, enjoying a relaxed retired life without heavy work commitments.
On November 12, 2024, Xu Qiliang attended the opening ceremony of the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai with a group of retired senior officials, enjoying good health.
On January 27, 2025, Xu Qiliang attended the New Year’s group meeting hosted by the CCP Central Committee and State Council, appearing to be in good spirits based on footage from CCTV.
However, just over four months later, Xu Qiliang’s sudden death at the age of 75, with a background of being a former top military leader and access to the best medical care, has left many shocked.
The healthcare conditions of high-ranking CCP officials may be among the best in the world.
The People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, also known as the 301 Hospital, is a key medical facility specialized in providing healthcare for senior CCP officials.
On September 15, 2019, an advertisement from the 301 Hospital circulated on Chinese social media platform WeChat, boasting about the advances made in healthcare for CCP leaders over the past 60 years since the founding of the People’s Republic. The advertisement highlighted a unique healthcare system integrating Eastern health maintenance principles with advanced Western medical technologies, aiming at preventive care, anti-aging, chronic disease management, organ function regeneration, and healthy lifestyles.
The advertisement claimed that this healthcare system was “world-leading,” with an average life expectancy of CCP leaders surpassing that of leaders in developed Western countries. It mentioned the initiation of the “981 Leader Health Project” in 2005 with a life extension goal of 150 years. The project included three major components, such as the “150-year Longevity Project.”
Data from this health project revealed that while in 2000 the life expectancy of CCP leaders was only 2 to 3 years longer than that of American leaders, it showed a significant nonlinear increase over the following years. By 2010, the life expectancy of CCP leaders was more than 10 years higher than that of American leaders.
One of the secrets to the longevity of high-ranking CCP officials is the ability to replace any malfunctioning organs.
On December 9, 2022, former Vice Chairman of the CCP National Committee of Writers’ Union Gao Zhanxiang passed away due to illness. Vice Secretary-General of the CPPCC Zhu Yongxin mentioned, “Over the years, Gao Zhanxiang had been fighting the illness valiantly, undergoing multiple organ transplants. He joked that many of his body parts were no longer his own.”
This indicates that in order to prolong life and combat illnesses, Gao Zhanxiang underwent numerous organ transplants.
Currently, several high-ranking CCP officials are still alive, such as former CCP Politburo Standing Committee member Song Ping, 108 years old; former Premier of the State Council Zhu Rongji, 96 years old; former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Chi Haotian, 95 years old; former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Cao Gangchuan, 90 years old; and former Vice President Zeng Qinghong, 85 years old.
As a former elite pilot, Xu Qiliang’s physical condition should have been better than the aforementioned high-ranking CCP officials. With access to the best medical care and retirement for only two years at the age of 75, his sudden death is indeed abnormal.
Since the second half of 2024, a new wave of purges has swept through the CCP military, resulting in the downfall of several senior military leaders handpicked by Xi Jinping. This includes Xi’s closest confidants: CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, and Central Military Commission member and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua.
He Weidong was Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in charge of political work and personnel affairs, while Miao Hua was the direct operator responsible for political work and personnel affairs at the Central Military Commission. The selection and appointment of senior military officers in the Central Military Commission’s 15 departments, five major theaters, various military branches, Armed Police Forces, military academies, and colleges have to go through Miao Hua, member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department, and then through CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong. Consequently, Miao Hua and He Weidong became targets for ambitious senior military officers seeking promotion.
On April 24, former Chinese media person Zhao Lanjian, who had previously leaked the news of He Weidong’s arrest, once again disclosed on social media platform X that on April 17, the Central Military Commission transmitted a confidential document to all military officers with the rank of Major General and above (including retirees) through “document reading or announcement by military commission leadership,” blaming Miao Hua and He Weidong for forming political cliques and groups, severely affecting the political ecology of the military, compromising the purity of the officers’ corps, undermining the militaries’ integrity construction, attempting to disrupt the personnel arrangements for the 21st CCP National Congress, and being branded as “treacherous and unfaithful,” leading to investigation against Miao and He, and their group members.
If indeed the above-mentioned document reached high-ranking military officials at the level of Major General, then a substantial number of them should have seen or heard about it. Some estimates suggest there are around 800 active Major Generals in the CCP. With such a large number, maintaining confidentiality becomes challenging. Therefore, the leaked information may have a certain level of credibility.
He Weidong and Miao Hua were Xi Jinping’s first and second confidants at the 20th Central Military Commission. So, what was Xu Qiliang’s relationship with Xi?
On July 2, 2018, senior editor Bill Gertz revealed in the “Washington Beacon” that Xu Qiliang and Xi had worked together for many years prior to Xi’s assumption of power in 2012. After Xi took office, Xu Qiliang became a major proponent of consolidating Xi’s personal power efforts. In Xi’s military purge, Xu Qiliang was instrumental in handling the most sensitive senior military leaders. The article quoted a China affairs expert stating, “Xu is Xi’s most trusted person. All the arrests of senior leaders before were based on his recommendations.”
Xu Qiliang served as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission for 10 years from 2012 to 2022, undoubtedly being one of Xi’s most important confidants.
Xu Qiliang, He Weidong, and Miao Hua all had connections to Fujian in relation to Xi. The Eighth Air Force, where Xu Qiliang was positioned, was stationed in Fujian during that time. While serving as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, both Miao Hua and He Weidong were rapidly promoted.
As the most trusted confidants in Xi’s circle, the relationship between Xu Qiliang, He Weidong, and Miao Hua was likely extraordinary.
During the sensitive period of the investigation into the “political clique of He Weidong and Miao Hua,” Xu Qiliang’s sudden death raises suspicions that it may be related to this case.
He Weidong’s downfall was likely due to information provided by Miao Hua. Xu Qiliang’s sudden death raises questions about whether he encountered problems related to being implicated by He Weidong and Miao Hua. This situation warrants further investigation.
During Xi’s first and second terms over the past ten years, Xu Qiliang served as a key figure in Xi’s anti-corruption and military reform efforts. Xu was involved in investigating over 160 senior military officials as part of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, which resulted in displeasure among many. Additionally, his role in the military reform led to the removal and promotion of numerous high-ranking military leaders, further aggravating tensions.
In the year 2025, during the period when several high-ranking military leaders appointed by Xi Jinping, including He Weidong and Miao Hua, were facing downfall, Xu Qiliang likely became another target of the purge. This may be the true reason behind Xu Qiliang’s sudden death or being “eliminated.”
Source: Epoch Times