Why China’s President Xi has expelled his second-highest general and eight others
Chinese President Xi Jinping has initiated a purge of the country’s military, leading to the expulsion of the second-highest-ranking general and eight other senior officials for alleged “serious misconduct.”
The officials, including General He Weidong, former vice chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), were dismissed from both the Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Defence Ministry confirmed on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Their cases have been transferred to military prosecutors, marking the beginning of likely criminal proceedings.
General He Weidong was among the most powerful figures in China’s military hierarchy. As Vice Chairman of the CMC and a Politburo member, he was involved in strategic command, including operations related to Taiwan. His disappearance from public view months ago had sparked speculation, but Friday’s announcement delivered the first official confirmation of his downfall.
The Defence Ministry said the expelled officials were implicated in “extremely serious crimes involving exceptionally large sums of money,” though no specific allegations were disclosed. The purge includes leaders responsible for political work, armaments, and logistics, core sectors often linked to procurement and corruption.
The expulsions come just days before a major Communist Party meeting in Beijing, where leadership appointments and strategic roadmaps for the next five years will be finalised.
“This move is both political and strategic,” said Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute. “It clears the way for Xi to appoint loyalists and tighten his control over the military at a critical geopolitical moment,” he said.
Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has made anti-corruption campaigns a hallmark of his rule, purging not only civilian officials but also dozens of senior commanders.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
