U.S. Officials Confirm He Weidong’s Fall: A Bigger Purge in the PLA’s Upper Echelons May Be Coming

Image: He Weidong, Zhao Keshi, and other Xi Jinping loyalists being purged by Zhang Youxia. (Qingyu / People News graphic)

[People News] On March 26, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Langfang City in Hebei Province, China, with tremors felt throughout Beijing, causing widespread fear. However, the political earthquake occurring in Zhongnanhai (the CCP leadership compound) has garnered even more attention. On that day, foreign media outlets reported that, according to U.S. Department of Defense officials, American intelligence agencies believe that He Weidong, the third-highest-ranking official in the CCP's Central Military Commission (CMC), has been dismissed.

News of He Weidong’s removal first broke on March 11 when independent commentator Zhao Lanjian reported it online. Since then, further revelations have surfaced about the arrests, investigations, and disappearances of other figures from Xi Jinping’s inner circle, such as Rocket Force Commander Wang Houbin, Eastern Theater Commander Lin Xiangyang, and former Army Political Commissar Qin Shuotong. This has set off rumors of a political explosion in Zhongnanhai. Over the past few days, rumors have also emerged about the disappearance of Defense Minister Dong Jun, who was notably absent from the opening and closing of the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization" meeting organized by the Ministry of Defense. To date, at least 43 senior military officers are said to have fallen.

According to a March 25 report by The Washington Times, two U.S. Department of Defense officials confirmed that Xi Jinping is conducting a political purge against He Weidong. For the first time, the U.S. government has acknowledged that these dismissals are part of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign, aimed at ensuring complete ideological loyalty within the military. Xi does not trust his senior military commanders.

One senior defense official explained that Xi is trying to root out any corruption within the military that could challenge or threaten his power. The core reason for this is Xi’s lack of trust in his military leaders’ ideological loyalty. A major weakness of the Chinese military is its political commissar system, which places ideologically reliable officers in charge at various levels, but these officers often lack the military capabilities of their non-political counterparts.

Another official noted that both He Weidong and fellow Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia were promoted to the CMC as military officers, not political commissars. Xi Jinping is concerned that military leaders could undermine his authority, and thus needs political commissars to ensure that all decisions align with the CMC and the CCP. The unusual power dynamics within the CMC, particularly regarding He Weidong’s removal, stem from these concerns.

One theory circulating is that He Weidong, along with others recently arrested, such as Wang Houbin, Lin Xiangyang, and Qin Shuotong, belong to He Weidong’s faction, all of whom are linked to the previously investigated CMC Political Work Department Director, Miao Hua. Many of them were recommended by Miao Hua and have close ties with him. However, He Weidong is a trusted confidant of Xi Jinping, having rapidly risen within the military, and is seen by many as Xi’s monitor over Zhang Youxia. It is unlikely that Xi Jinping would purge He Weidong and his faction on his own. Instead, internal CCP factions are likely behind this purge, aiming to weaken Xi’s power as he seeks re-election during the 21st Party Congress. To prevent a potential military coup or a counterattack by Xi’s loyalists through a Taiwan war, He Weidong and his faction have been targeted.

Another circulating rumor suggests that He Weidong, Lin Xiangyang, and others may have leaked confidential information about the Taiwan war. The reason behind this claim is that the Deputy Secretary of the Military Discipline Commission, Tang Yong, was recently removed from his position. Tang’s alleged crime was leaking information about Miao Hua’s investigation, and the leaked details were reportedly about Taiwan war plans, which were shared with Miao Hua by He Weidong and Lin Xiangyang.

The truth behind these rumors remains unclear, as the CCP’s opaque system makes it impossible to confirm such sensitive information. However, these varying possibilities suggest a serious power struggle within the military, with intense internal infighting. The rumors themselves reflect the current instability within the CCP, indicating that many in the military are not loyal to the highest leadership. As a result, a reshuffling of power is imminent. The CCP’s internal turmoil and eventual collapse seem inevitable, as the regime’s authoritarian, opaque nature ensures its eventual downfall.

So, Can We Trust that the Information Obtained by U.S. Department of Defense officials is Accurate? 

On November 28 last year, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, announced that just before Miao Hua's investigation, the British Financial Times reported, citing informed current and former U.S. officials, that the Chinese Communist Party had initiated an investigation into Dong Jun. However, the following day, Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, vehemently denounced this as 'a wild guess,' asserting that the reports were 'pure fabrications, and those spreading rumors have ulterior motives,' among other accusations. Dong Jun quickly made a public appearance to assert that the intelligence received by U.S. officials might not be accurate. Nevertheless, according to reliable information from insiders about Dong Jun's situation, it is indeed confirmed that he was taken away for a routine investigation influenced by Miao Hua, and the reasons for his subsequent release remain unclear.

Following this, Dong Jun's public appearances have become increasingly unusual, as he has been significantly downplayed in his role or absent from key meetings. For example, he did not attend the State Council plenary meeting and the symposium marking the '20th Anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law,' which was chaired by Premier Li Qiang on March 14, where his presence was expected. Additionally, at this year's Ministry of National Defense 'Spring Festival (New Year) Reception,' he was only part of a collective meeting with guests, and during this year's Two Sessions, he was only briefly captured on camera... At the 'First Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting of 2025,' organized by the Ministry of National Defense, which opened yesterday and concluded today, the Ministry issued a statement through spokesperson Colonel Wu Qian only after the event's closure, which served merely as a formality. The statement, consisting of over a hundred words, did not mention Dong Jun at all. This meeting had been announced by the Ministry of National Defense more than ten days in advance to emphasize its significance. Thus, it appears that Dong Jun has gone missing, and earlier reports from U.S. officials suggesting that the CCP is investigating him seem to be accurate.