Just days before the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fourth Plenum, Beijing’s Defense Ministry announced the removal and expulsion of nine high-ranking generals from both the Party and the military.
The move—described by analysts as one of the most dramatic internal purges since Xi Jinping took power—has shaken China’s political and military establishment.
The nine include He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC); Miao Hua, former head of the Political Work Department; and seven others from key commands including the Rocket Force, Navy, and People’s Armed Police.
All were accused of “serious duty-related crimes involving enormous sums of money,” language that typically signals criminal prosecution under the PLA’s anti-graft code.
Unusual procedure signals turbulence at the top
What caught observers’ attention was not only the timing but also the way the decision was announced.
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Traditionally, major personnel changes within the PLA are first reported by Xinhua News Agency, then echoed by People’s Daily and state television. This time, however, the Defense Ministry released the notice at 5:15 p.m. on Oct.17—before any Party media coverage.
State-run outlets reacted hesitantly: Xinhua and People’s Daily Online carried the story only minutes later in secondary sections, while CCTV’s flagship Xinwen Lianbo newscast made no mention of it for two consecutive nights.
Analysts interpret the “reversed order” as a rare breach of Party protocol that may hint at internal friction between the military apparatus and the propaganda system.
“In a Party where the slogan is always ‘the Party commands the gun,’ this time it looked as if the gun spoke first,” one Beijing-based political scholar told Vision Times.
From corruption charges to allegations of disloyalty
Officially, the nine generals were accused of corruption. But state-affiliated commentary later used unusually severe political terminology—phrases such as “loss of political loyalty” and “violating the principle that the Party commands the gun.”
Those expressions, used only in rare cases, suggest deeper political implications.
In the CCP’s lexicon, “loss of loyalty” denotes not mere misconduct but betrayal of political allegiance. When paired with “violating the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC,” it signals a direct challenge to Xi Jinping’s supreme military authority.
Such wording, analysts say, elevates the case from corruption to potential political defiance—an “upgrading of charges” that may provide legal cover for a broader power reshuffle.
The nine expelled officers share notable traits: all were promoted after Xi came to power in 2012, many within just three years, and several were known as members of his “personal army.”
He Weidong and Miao Hua, in particular, had been central to implementing Xi’s military reforms and symbolized his control over the armed forces.
Political insiders note that another name—Zhong Shaojun, Xi’s long-time aide and former CMC General Office director—has also faded from public view. Zhong, often called Xi’s “gatekeeper,” was reportedly reassigned earlier after a dispute with senior commander Zhang Youxia.
His recent disappearance from leadership rosters has fueled speculation that even Xi’s closest associates are no longer immune.
“Xi’s purge of his own generals may show strength—or desperation,” said one military analyst in London. “Either he discovered disloyalty within his circle, or his rivals have forced his hand.”
Rival forces and the role of Zhang Youxia
Among those untouched by the purge is Zhang Youxia, the other vice chairman of the CMC and one of the few remaining “princelings” with family ties to the Party’s revolutionary founders.
Although Zhang and Xi share deep personal connections, some observers believe he may now represent an autonomous center of power within the military, possibly aligned with senior Party elders seeking to curb Xi’s dominance.
The apparent survival of Zhang and his allies, analysts argue, could signal a shift toward a more collective power balance inside the Party—a potential retreat from Xi’s decade-long “core leadership” model.
One of the most striking developments lies in how official rhetoric has turned Xi’s own anti-corruption language against him.
PLA Daily editorials have reportedly linked the current scandal to the “lingering poison” of former top generals Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou—the very figures Xi purged a decade ago to consolidate control.
By framing Xi’s protégés as products of the same “corrupt legacy” he once vowed to eliminate, the narrative effectively undermines Xi’s legitimacy.
“It’s a masterstroke of political judo,” one commentator noted. “Using Xi’s own slogans to discredit Xi himself.”
Procedural breach and the Fourth Plenum
Under CCP rules, the removal of full Central Committee members must be ratified by a plenary session. In this case, the expulsions were announced before the Fourth Plenum convened, implying that the Party was asked to “endorse a fait accompli.”
Such a reversal—acting first and formalizing later—is highly unusual and suggests that the decision bypassed the Politburo’s normal review process.
The Fourth Plenum, opening Oct. 20, is expected to confirm the expulsions and may approve additional personnel changes.
Closely timed meetings of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (Oct. 24) and the CPPCC Standing Committee (Oct. 25) have led some observers to predict major reshuffles of state positions, potentially extending beyond the military sphere.
Competing narratives: Three possible scenarios
Analysts currently debate three main interpretations of the upheaval:
- A Successful Pushback Against Xi:
A coalition of senior military leaders and Party elders, possibly centered on Zhang Youxia, orchestrated the purge to weaken Xi’s grip and restore collective leadership. - Xi’s Self-Revolution:
Xi initiated the purge himself to cleanse disloyal subordinates and rebuild personal control—an act of “surgical self-purification.” - Systemic Breakdown:
The purge reflects coordination failure among Party, propaganda, and military organs—each acting on partial information, resulting in public confusion and mutual distrust.
Each scenario aligns with certain observable facts but lacks definitive proof. As one think-tank report noted, “China’s opaque system ensures that every explanation is plausible—and none verifiable.”
Indicators to watch
Experts recommend focusing on measurable signs rather than speculation:
- Speed and pattern of new appointments — rapid, centralized replacements may indicate one faction’s dominance.
- Consistency of Party media tone — swift unification suggests control; prolonged silence implies continued division.
- Language of the Fourth Plenum communiqué — if it elevates the case to a “political discipline violation,” the purge’s political dimension will be confirmed.
- Post-plenum sessions of the NPC and CPPCC — any leadership changes will reveal whether power redistribution extends to state organs.
Whatever its trigger, the fall of nine generals marks one of the most significant political crises of Xi Jinping’s rule.
It exposes the fragility of China’s highly centralized system—where personal loyalty, institutional fear, and opaque procedures collide.
Whether this is a purge of Xi’s enemies or his own allies, the message is unmistakable: no one inside the Party is untouchable.
As Beijing enters a critical week of political meetings under unprecedented secrecy, the world watches for signs of whether China’s one-man rule is being reinforced—or beginning to fracture.
Conclusion: Watch the indicators, not the rumors
The collapse of nine PLA generals—whether a strike against Xi’s allies or a purge he led himself—marks a turning point in China’s political narrative.
China’s opacity ensures speculation; real clues will come from observable actions.
Watch four indicators: the speed of new appointments, the tone of Party media, the wording of the Fourth Plenum communiqué, and any leadership shifts in the NPC and CPPCC.
If procedures normalize and propaganda converges, risk remains contained; if not, instability will ripple through the system.
This political earthquake has laid bare the tension within one-party rule and the ways competing factions defend their interests.
In the coming weeks, disciplined observation will reveal more than rumor—and patience may prove the clearest form of insight.
Fact Box: Key Events Timeline
| Date | Event | Significance |
| Oct 17 2025 | Defense Ministry expels 9 generals | Unprecedented pre-plenum purge |
| Oct 20–23 | CCP Fourth Plenum | Expected to ratify expulsions |
| Oct 24–25 | NPC & CPPCC Standing Committee sessions | Possible state-level reshuffles |
| 2013–2024 | Series of PLA purges (Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Li Shangfu) | Establishes Xi’s control over the military |
