General He Weidong, the second vice-chair of China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and effectively the number two in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been abruptly removed from his post, marking the most significant military purge under Xi Jinping’s leadership since he assumed power.
This move is particularly notable as He is the first uniformed CMC vice-chair to be dismissed since 1967, underscoring the gravity and rarity of the action. While no official explanation has been provided, the prevailing assumption is that He’s removal is linked to corruption, a charge frequently levelled in recent high-profile PLA purges.
He Weidong’s ouster is emblematic of a broader campaign by Xi to root out what he perceives as disloyalty and corruption within the PLA. Since Xi took the helm, at least 78 senior PLA officers of two-star rank or above have been removed, including eight current or former CMC members. This sweeping campaign has not spared even those considered close to Xi, such as AdmiralHe and Miao Hua share a long history, having both served in the 31st Group Army in Fujian, a province where Xi himself rose through the political ranks. Their careers overlapped multiple times, and both were considered part of Xi’s inner circle, with He’s rapid ascent seen as a direct result of his close ties to Xi. Despite his operational experience, He’s promotion to CMC vice-chair was surprising, as he had never previously served on the CMC or in the CCP’s Central Committee. His career included key roles as commander of the Western Theater Command, which oversees the disputed border with India, and later as head of the Eastern Theater Command, responsible for Taiwan and the East China Sea.The stability and trust at the PLA’s higher levels are called into doubt by He Weidong’s removal. According to analysts, Xi’s actions reveal a serious lack of confidence between him and his senior officers as well as widespread fear and instability in the military. The targeting of figures from the so-called “Fujian clique”—officers who advanced through the 31st Group Army and the Eastern Theater Command—suggests a deliberate effort to dismantle potential factions and consolidate Xi’s personal control over the military apparatus.
