Beijing, China—China’s Defense Ministry announced Friday the dismissal of two senior military leaders from the ruling Communist Party and the Chinese army on corruption charges.
They are thus the most senior officers to be dismissed as part of the anti-corruption campaign that began in 2023.
In contrast, Reuters clarified that the two military figures are: He Weidong, the second-in-command of the Chinese army,
Admiral Miao Hua, former senior political officer in the People’s Liberation Army,
They are the latest high-ranking military officials to be targeted in a campaign against corruption within the army.
He is considered a member of the Communist Party’s Political Bureau.
And he is also the highest-ranking official to be dismissed in the anti-corruption campaign within the People’s Liberation Army.
He enjoyed close ties with President Xi Jinping and was quickly promoted to membership of the country’s top military body.
On the other hand, analysts have pointed out that Xi Jinping is conducting a “massive purge” ahead of an important internal Communist Party meeting scheduled for next week.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also dismissed the second-highest-ranking general in the Chinese army, the People’s Liberation Army, on suspicion of corruption in mid-April.
This is part of an ongoing campaign to combat corruption in the army, the first time a general in this position has been dismissed in six decades.
General He Weidong, who served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was dismissed.
which has six members and is chaired by Xi, in recent weeks.
In addition to being the second highest-ranking officer in the army,
He is also the third-highest-ranking commander in the Chinese armed forces and a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo.
His dismissal is the latest step in a long series of purges led by Xi against officers accused of corruption.
