On May 1st, it has been 51 days since He Weidong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, “disappeared”.
Where has Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong gone? This has become another major event that has caught international attention following the “disappearance” of various high-ranking officials such as Qin Gang, Member of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2023, as well as Li Shangfu, Member of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor, and Minister of National Defense.
On March 14th, a symposium commemorating the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the “Anti-Secession Law” was held in Beijing by the CCP. Attending the symposium were top officials such as Zhao Leji, member of the CCP’s Political Bureau Standing Committee and Chairman of the National People’s Congress, Wang Yi, member of the CCP’s Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and others.
The absence of He Weidong, who is in charge of the political work of the military as the Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, a key senior military leader highly trusted by Xi Jinping for the reunification of Taiwan by force, is notable given his expected attendance at such high-level meetings.
In the following days, He Weidong was absent from several important events including the Central Military Commission’s participation in tree planting activities and other key meetings. Speculations and rumors about his sudden absence and alleged investigation began circulating among both domestic and international communities.
Reports indicated that He Weidong might have been detained and undergoing questioning due to corruption-related issues. His absence from various official events and meetings raised concerns and led to speculations about his potential removal from office.
This incident involving He Weidong is seen as a significant blow to Xi Jinping’s control over the military, as He Weidong was considered one of his closest allies. The ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the CCP’s ranks has targeted several high-ranking military officials, further shaking up the military establishment.
The potential removal or investigation of He Weidong, along with other high-ranking officials, has raised questions about the level of corruption within the Chinese military and the extent of Xi Jinping’s grip on power within the party and the military.
The “disappearance” of He Weidong highlights the lack of transparency and accountability within the CCP’s leadership and the limited rights and information available to the Chinese people regarding such internal power struggles and investigations.
The recent events involving He Weidong reflect the broader issues of authoritarianism and lack of accountability within the CCP, and how power struggles and corruption can have far-reaching impacts on the party leadership and the country as a whole.
The case of He Weidong further exposes the contradictions and challenges faced by the CCP in maintaining its authority while dealing with internal power struggles, corruption, and the erosion of trust among party officials and the public.
The situation surrounding He Weidong’s disappearance underscores the ongoing power struggles within the CCP and the risks associated with unchecked authoritarian control and lack of accountability in Chinese politics.