He Hongjun Replaces Miao Hua, State Media Eerily Omits Name

In a report by CCTV's military channel on the Capital Military-Political Symposium, the written text omitted the name of He Hongjun. The lower part of He Hongjun's nameplate was obscured, leaving his full name unclear. (Video screenshot)

[People News] He Hongjun, a general of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), replaced the suspended and investigated Miao Hua to attend the Capital Military-Political Symposium. Strangely, Beijing state media and the PLA Daily did not mention He Hongjun by name in their reports, creating the illusion that no high-ranking military officials attended the symposium.

He Hongjun Attends Capital Military-Political Symposium; Beijing State Media Omits His Name

According to Beijing Daily, the official newspaper of the CCP Beijing Municipal Committee, the 2025 Capital Military-Political Symposium was held on January 22. Attendees included Politburo member and Beijing Municipal Committee Secretary Yin Li, Minister of Veterans Affairs Pei Jinjia, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Beijing Yin Yong, Director of the Standing Committee of the Beijing People's Congress Li Xiuling, and Chairman of the Beijing People's Political Consultative Conference Wei Xiaodong. The report noted that leaders of the CMC departments and Beijing-based military units also participated but did not mention the names of any military officials.

Traditionally, such events are attended by the Beijing Party Secretary and a member of the CMC, typically the Director of the Political Work Department, who both give speeches. For example, in 2023 and 2024, Yin Li and then-CMC member and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua attended and spoke at the symposium. Similarly, in 2021 and 2022, then-Beijing Party Secretary Cai Qi and Miao Hua participated and delivered speeches.

Beijing Television’s related coverage also did not name any military officials in attendance. However, video footage showed CCP General and Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department He Hongjun seated to the left of Beijing Party Secretary Yin Li. Like other officials such as Yin Li, Pei Jinjia, Yin Yong, Li Xiuling, and Wei Xiaodong, He Hongjun received close-up shots. When the report mentioned "leaders of CMC departments and Beijing-based military units" speaking, the camera again provided a close-up of He Hongjun.

CCTV Military Channel Also Omits Military Leaders' Names

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) CCTV military channel did not mention the names of military leaders in its related reports. In a 2-minute and 39-second video report, only Beijing Party Secretary Yin Li was given a close-up shot. When the report mentioned "leaders of CMC departments and Beijing-based military units" speaking, the camera briefly showed He Hongjun and Beijing Mayor Yin Yong together, but the shot lasted only 7 seconds.

More strangely, in the CCTV report, the lower half of He Hongjun's nameplate was obscured, preventing his full name from being visible.

PLA Daily Also Omits He Hongjun's Name

According to a report by the PLA Daily, the 2025 Capital Military-Political Symposium was held on January 22 in Beijing, attended by CCP Politburo member and Beijing Party Secretary Yin Li, who gave a speech. The report also mentioned the attendance of "leaders of CMC departments and Beijing-based military units" but did not provide the names of any military leaders.

In contrast, for the 2023 and 2024 Capital Military-Political Symposiums, the PLA Daily mentioned CCP Politburo member and Beijing Party Secretary Yin Li, and CMC member and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua, who both attended and spoke. CCTV's military channel provided close-up shots of both Yin Li and Miao Hua in related reports.

He Hongjun's Promotion Before Miao Hua's Downfall

He Hongjun, born in August 1961 in Yangxian, Shaanxi, began his rise in the military ranks in 2012, becoming the Director of the Political Department of the Qinghai Provincial Military District. He was promoted to Major General in 2013 and held various senior positions thereafter, including Assistant Director of the Political Work Department of the CMC in 2017 and Deputy Director in 2019, when he was promoted to Lieutenant General.

Ahead of the CCP’s 20th Central Committee Third Plenary Session, on July 9, 2024, He Hongjun was promoted to General and took on the position of Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department (a position equivalent to a theater-level command). At that time, there was widespread speculation that He Hongjun was placed in this role to consolidate power, sidelining Miao Hua and preparing for his eventual removal.

Four months later, on November 28, 2024, Miao Hua, a close ally of CCP leader Xi Jinping, was officially announced to be under investigation for serious violations of discipline and was suspended from his position.

Shortly after, it was reported that He Hongjun had been appointed to take over the full responsibilities of the CMC Political Work Department, officially replacing Miao Hua.

Conclusion

Since He Hongjun was promoted to General and appointed as the Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department, there have been few reports about his public appearances. His attendance at the Capital Military-Political Symposium is likely his first appearance at a major event. Strangely, both Beijing state media and the PLA Daily have censored his name.

According to convention, a General in the Central Military Commission's General Staff is equivalent to a provincial-level official. As a CCP General and Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department, He Hongjun was given a close-up shot in Beijing TV reports, along with other high-ranking provincial-level officials such as Pei Jinjia, Yin Yong, Li Xiuling, and Wei Xiaodong, which indicates that his rank is at least on par with senior provincial-level officials. However, his name was conspicuously absent from the Beijing state media report, which is highly unusual.

In military reports, not only was He Hongjun’s name omitted, but there was no close-up shot of him during his speech either. This marks a strange anomaly in the reports about the Capital Military-Political Symposium, as it is the first time that military leaders' names have been completely omitted.

Since mid-July 2024, the CCP's political landscape has undergone dramatic changes. Rumors of Xi Jinping’s severe illness and possible coup have persisted, and Xi’s loyal generals have been repeatedly falling out of favor. There is growing evidence of Xi losing control over the military, and signs of weakening political power are becoming more apparent. At the same time, CCP and military media have frequently published sensitive articles hinting at Xi Jinping’s leadership failures.

After Xi’s close ally, Miao Hua, was officially announced to be under investigation on November 28, 2024, military media published four articles in early and mid-December 2024, emphasizing "democratic centralism," "collective leadership," and "party democracy," clearly opposing the concept of a "one-man rule." These articles notably did not mention the system of the CMC chairman’s responsibility, implying a rejection of this model and half-open resistance to Xi.

Previously, in late 2023, Dong Jun replaced the disgraced Li Shangfu as Minister of Defense, but over a year later, Dong has still not been promoted to a CMC member or State Councilor, and rumors about his investigation have surfaced. Now, He Hongjun, who has been promoted to General and appointed as the Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Political Work Department, replaced the fallen Miao Hua at important events, yet his appearance has not been publicly reported. These signs indicate that the CCP’s political situation is abnormal, the military is in disarray, and internal power struggles at the highest levels are intensifying.

(Dajiyuan)