Who is He Weidong? China's No. 2 general sacked from the Communist Party - what was his crime?

China’s second most ranking military staff has become the newest senior leader to come under the nation’s broadening anti-corruption initiative . The Ministry of National Defence stated on Friday that He Weidong, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the 24-seat Politburo, are removed from both the Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

His expulsion makes the initial instance a serving member of the current Politburo, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) top decision-making body, has experienced such disciplinary measures.

Details of the Investigation

In a rare instance, the Ministry of National Defence published a voluntary public announcement via spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, who mentioned that nine senior military authorities had been investigated and punished for major breaches of Party criteria.


“Upon investigation, it has been determined that these nine individuals seriously violated party discipline and allegedly committed grave duty-related crimes. The amounts involved are particularly huge, the nature of the offences extremely severe, and the impact is exceptionally negative,” Zhang told a regular media briefing on Friday.

Along with He Weidong, those who are been on investigation are Miao Hua, a former CMC member overseeing the military’s political, ideological, and personnel matters; He Hongjun, Miao’s deputy; and Wang Xiubin, who was previously held respondible as executive deputy director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Centre.

Others include Lin Xiangyang, former commander of the Eastern Theatre Command; Qin Shutong, former political commissar of the PLA Army; Yuan Huazhi, former political commissar of the Navy; Wang Houbin, ex-commander of the Rocket Force; and Wang Chunning, who earlier guided the People’s Armed Police Force.

Deepening Purge in the Ranks

He Weidong’s downfall makes him the third CMC member to be expelled after the current leadership happened in office in 2022, signalling that China’s anti-graft initiative remains to reach into the uppermost tiers of its armed forces.

“The serious investigation and punishment of He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, and others once again demonstrates the firm determination of the Party’s Central Committee and the Central Military Commission to carry the fight against corruption through to the end. It highlights a clear stance that there is no place for corrupted officials to hide within the military,” Zhang said.

The Defence Ministry portrayed the purge as “a significant achievement” in China’s continuing anti-corruption attempts, saying that it would make the armed forces “purer, more consolidated, and endowed with stronger cohesion and combat effectiveness.”

Leadership Shake-Up at the Top

The CMC, chaired by President Xi Jinping, has been at the uppermost of China’s military command chain. After the 20th Party Congress in 2022, seven individuals were hired to the Commission but only four remain, a scenario unseen in years.

Besides Xi, the remaining lineup are Vice-Chairman Zhang Youxia, and two members, Liu Zhenli, head of the Joint Staff Department, and Zhang Shengmin, who guides the military’s discipline inspection commission.

Formal Expulsions

The Defence Ministry stated that all nine staff had already been removed from their military positions before Friday’s revelation.

In its official statement, the Ministry stated that the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee had “decided to expel these individuals from the Party and transfer the suspected crimes to military procuratorates for review and prosecution.”

The ministry added that the Chinese Military Commission had earlier decided to expel the nine individuals from the armed forces, describing “the severe punishment” of the accused as evidence of “the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission's unwavering resolve to persevere in the fight against corruption, underscoring their unwavering commitment to leaving no place for corrupt elements to hide in the military.”

FAQs:

1. Who is He Weidong?
He Weidong was China’s second most ranking military officer and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

2. Why was he expelled?
He was accused of serious allegations in regard to corruption and violating Party discipline.