BEIJING – China’s Communist Party has expelled nine top military generals from both the party and the armed forces in one of the biggest anti-corruption purges in recent years.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the officials — many of them members of the Party’s powerful Central Committee — are accused of serious financial crimes and misconduct. Among those removed are: He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Wang Houbin, Commander of the Rocket Force.
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He Weidong, who was China’s second-highest-ranking general, had not been seen in public since March, fueling earlier rumors of an internal investigation. While the Ministry called this part of a broader anti-corruption campaign, some Western analysts suggest the move could be politically motivated, coming just before a crucial Party meeting to discuss China’s economic future and leadership changes.
The Ministry said the generals violated Party discipline and were involved in embezzlement and other serious misconduct. The purge underscores President Xi Jinping’s continued drive to tighten control over China’s military and eliminate potential rivals within the ranks.