Major Shake-up? Reports Suggest Xi’s Trusted Ally Miao Hua Taken Away

On October 29, 2024, the CCP’s training program for provincial and ministerial-level cadres began at the Central Party School, where Miao Hua appeared on CCTV with a seemingly furrowed brow. (Video screenshot)

People News– Recent online reports suggest that the director of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department, Admiral Miao Hua, has been directly taken away by the Central Military Commission's Disciplinary Commission. Analysts believe this could indicate that Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping’s trust in him has been shaken, potentially leading to a new wave of purges within the military. This could also impact several high-ranking officers handpicked by Xi, including Admiral Dong Jun, who was appointed as Minister of National Defense just last year.

On November 11, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed in a media program that he had received reliable information indicating Miao Hua’s removal. This incident marks a significant blow to the “Fujian faction,” a group Xi Jinping favors within the military, and could impact the “Fujian faction” and “Shaanxi faction” in the military as a whole.

Miao Hua is currently responsible for overseeing ideology, politics, and personnel work within the military.

Cai Shenkun analyzed that Miao Hua’s downfall may be tied to his active efforts in promoting his allies within the military. Since Xi Jinping took office, Miao Hua, a key figure in Xi’s inner circle, has promoted numerous navy officers, including high-ranking officials like Dong Jun.

Cai commented that Miao Hua’s influence extended over the promotion of any officer, as his endorsement was essential. Coming from a navy background, Miao Hua used his position to elevate a significant number of navy officers, such as Dong Jun, currently the Minister of National Defense. Besides assigning his people to key command positions, Miao Hua was also involved in disciplinary matters within the Central Military Commission. Many navy officers who rose rapidly in recent years were backed by Miao Hua. However, Miao Hua’s influence over the military and his loyalty to Xi Jinping seem not to have provided sufficient protection; instead, his sway may have sparked Xi’s suspicion, potentially leading to his purge.

For instance, due to Xi’s lack of trust in Miao Hua, the National Defense Minister Dong Jun, recommended by Miao Hua, was excluded from the Central Military Commission, placing Dong Jun in an awkward position without either a role as a Commission member or a state councilor to fill his position.

On the same day, former Chinese navy officer Yao Cheng also stated on the overseas platform X that factional struggles within the Central Military Commission are escalating and becoming public. He confirmed that Miao Hua has been taken in for investigation by the commission’s Disciplinary Commission.

Yao Cheng disclosed that Miao Hua’s formal investigation had been anticipated since last month, when Qin Shengxiang, Director of the Military Reform Office, along with navy political commissar Yuan Huazhi and army political commissar Qin Shutang, were placed under investigation. These three figures were also previously close allies of Miao Hua’s from the 31st Army. Notably, the 31st Army faction has grown in the military, especially within the navy, where there is strong dissent about Miao Hua’s decision to appoint successive commissars from the 31st Army.

While this information has not yet been officially confirmed by Chinese authorities, it aligns with the typical delay in publicizing or even acknowledging such incidents involving high-ranking Chinese military officials. News regarding similar cases, such as those of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, also circulated for some time before any official acknowledgment.

Cai Shenkun suggests that Miao Hua’s situation reflects Xi Jinping’s intentions to restructure top military leadership. Alongside Miao Hua’s removal, his deputy, He Hongjun, has been promoted. Originally a trusted subordinate of Miao Hua, He Hongjun was given a special promotion to general earlier this year and now serves as the Executive Deputy Director of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department, indicating that Xi may be preparing to replace Miao Hua with He to further consolidate his control over the military.