The Hindu: Published on 28th Oct 2025.
Why in News?
On October 17, China’s Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang announced the expulsion of nine senior military commanders from the Communist Party of China (CPC).
These officials held high positions in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Central Military Commission (CMC).
The expulsions were carried out under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing military anti-corruption campaign, aimed at maintaining strict party discipline.
What Happened:
The nine commanders were accused of serious violations of party discipline and major duty-related crimes involving extremely large sums of money.
Some of them had already been removed from their posts earlier or were missing for several months.
According to CPC rules, expulsion is the severest punishment within the party’s disciplinary framework.
Who are the Expelled Officials:
The key expelled figures include:
He Weidong – Member of CPC Politburo and Vice Chairman of the CMC
Miao Hua – Former Director, CMC Political Work Department
He Hongjun – Former Executive Deputy Director, CMC Political Work Department
Wang Xiubin – Former Executive Deputy Director, CMC Joint Operations Command Center
Lin Xiangyang – Former Commander, Eastern Theater Command
These dismissals mark one of the largest purges in China’s top military leadership in recent years.
Background – Xi Jinping’s Anti-Graft Drive:
Since 2012, President Xi Jinping has led a massive anti-corruption campaign across the military and civilian sectors.
The goal is to ensure “clean governance and loyalty to the Party.”
This current round of expulsions extends the anti-graft legacy started with the downfall of former CMC Vice-Chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both disgraced for corruption in earlier years.
Role of Factional Rivalries:
Political observers note that factional rivalries may have played a part.
Many expelled officers, including He Weidong, belonged to the so-called “Fujian faction”, linked personally to Xi Jinping from his early political days in Fujian province.
This faction has traditionally influenced China’s Taiwan military strategy.
Their rivals, led by Zhang Youxia (First Vice Chairman of the CMC), represent the “Shaanxi faction.”
Hence, these expulsions may reflect both anti-corruption motives and power consolidation within the PLA.
Impact and Way Ahead:
- The removal of such high-ranking officials may shake morale within the PLA and raise concerns over combat readiness, especially regarding Taiwan.
- However, Xi Jinping is expected to tighten central control and further integrate the military under the CMC’s direct supervision.
- This purge thus signals Xi’s determination to maintain absolute party control over the armed forces.
