Anti-graft crackdown: China expels 9 top generals over corruption

Among the generals were He Weidong, who was the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top military decision-making body of the CCP. He was only second to President Xi Jinping in the military’s chain of command. Notably, he was also a Politburo member.

The other generals were Miao Hua, the dirctor of the CMC’s political work department; He Hongjun, the executive deputy director of the CMC’s political work department; Wang Xiubin, the executive deputy director of the CMC’s joint operations command centre; Qin Shutong, the Army’s political commissar; Yuan Huazhi, the Navy’s political commissar; Lin Xiangyang, the Eastern Theatre commander; Wang Houbin, Rocket Forces commander; and Wang Chunning, Armed Police Force commander.

The names are among the dozens of top figures in China’s military brass expelled over corruption since Xi Jinping assumed power as General Secretary of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) in 2012. Accused of purging officials to his strengthen grip on the state apparatus, Xi is currently the President of China, the General Secretary of the PSC, and Chairman of the CMC — the highest positions in the state, party and military. Notably, in 2018, the Chinese parliament ended the two-term limit for Presidents, allowing Xi to remain in power indefinitely.

The latest move comes ahead of the party’s plenum where the Central Committee will vote new members and discuss the country’s economic development plan.

Last year, the CCP expelled General Li Shangfu, who headed the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Forces, over alleged corruption and launched prosecution proceedings against him. He was removed his post as defence minister the year prior. His successor in the ministry, Dong Jun, was also put under investigation in 2024.

In 2024, China executed Li Jianping, a former official in the north Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, over a $421 million-dollar corruption case.