China Axes 9 Generals Before Party Plenum

By The Financial District
Oct 22
2 min read

China’s second-highest-ranking general and eight other senior officials have been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and the military on suspicion of serious misconduct linked to corruption, the Defense Ministry said, Ken Moritsugu and Kanis Leung reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The shakedown comes on the eve of the party’s plenum, where the 205-member Central Committee will discuss China’s economic plan and vote in new members. (Photo: ALPACI - Joint French Forces in French Polynesia X)

While the statement cast the expulsion as part of an anti-corruption drive, analysts say it could also be seen as a political purge.

It comes on the eve of the party’s plenum, where the 205-member Central Committee will discuss China’s economic plan and vote in new members, Tessa Wong reported for BBC News.

The nine officials are:

He Weidong – Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)
Miao Hua – Director of the CMC’s Political Work Department
He Hongjun – Executive Deputy Director of the CMC’s Political Work Department
Wang Xiubin – Executive Deputy Director of the CMC’s Joint Operations Command Center
Lin Xiangyang – Eastern Theatre Commander
Qin Shutong – Army Political Commissar
Yuan Huazhi – Navy Political Commissar
Wang Houbin – Rocket Forces Commander
Wang Chunning – Armed Police Force Commander

He Weidong’s removal is the first of a sitting general on the Central Military Commission since the 1966–1976 Cultural Revolution.

He has not been seen in public since March, but the investigation of his activities had not previously been disclosed by Chinese authorities, Laurie Chen reported for Reuters.

The expulsion of He, 68, has implications beyond the military, as he also sat on the 24-member Politburo, the ruling Communist Party’s second-highest echelon of power, Lisa Hornung reported for United Press International (UPI) along with Paul McGurk of Press Association (PA).