U.S. Defense Officials: CCP Vice Chairman He Weidong Reportedly Purged

Will the CCP Hold the Most Disastrous Two Sessions in History? (Illustration by People News)

[People News] According to The Washington Times, two U.S. defense officials have revealed that intelligence agencies believe He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Central Military Commission (CMC), has been purged by CCP leader Xi Jinping and placed under investigation. When asked about this on Thursday (March 27), Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian responded, “There is no such information, and I am not aware of the situation.”

According to Radio Free Asia, He Weidong was an unusually fast-rising general whom Xi Jinping promoted to CMC Vice Chairman in October 2022. However, ever since the conclusion of China’s annual Two Sessions meetings, rumors of his detention, house arrest, or ongoing investigation have been growing louder.

Speculation about He’s disappearance has been circulating for a week. Two U.S. defense officials have now confirmed that Xi Jinping is indeed purging He Weidong, citing Xi’s deep mistrust of his senior military commanders. The reason: Xi believes they lack firm ideological loyalty.

Lack of Political Support for Xi Jinping

The officials indicated that He Weidong’s downfall stems from unusual power dynamics within the CMC. He reportedly failed to demonstrate sufficient political loyalty to Xi, leading to suspicions from the top leader. Xi is using the investigation to ensure that only his trusted personnel hold key positions, and He Weidong’s removal is part of this larger political maneuver.

A key weakness of the Chinese military, according to U.S. officials, is its political commissar system, which places ideologically reliable officers in key positions rather than prioritizing military expertise. This creates inefficiencies in command structures.

In addition to He Weidong’s reported purge, other senior military leaders are also said to be under investigation. Reports suggest that Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, and Wang Houbin, commander of the Rocket Force, have both been detained. Notably, Lin Xiangyang’s removal is reportedly linked to leaking Taiwan military operation plans. This is significant because the Eastern Theater Command is the primary unit responsible for military actions against Taiwan.

Corruption and Xi Jinping’s Crackdown

For over a decade, Xi Jinping has been actively expanding China’s military capabilities, but during this time, at least 43 high-ranking military officers have been purged. While the internal dynamics of the Chinese military remain opaque, U.S. defense officials note that the systematic elimination of top military officials is striking. Corruption remains a deeply entrenched issue within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Xi is aware of this. His ongoing anti-corruption campaign seeks to eliminate any figures who could challenge or undermine his authority.

The report also mentioned that the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a report last week highlighting rampant corruption within the Chinese military. Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign has specifically targeted the military leadership, carrying out high-profile purges of senior officers. Despite Xi’s more than 10-year-long push for anti-corruption measures, a “money-first” culture still persists within the Chinese military.

The last major military purge occurred in November 2023, when then-CMC member Miao Hua was suspended. Additionally, in 2023, former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed following the ousting of at least 10 senior Rocket Force officers.