China Expels Nine Senior Military Officials in Largest-Ever Anti-Corruption Crackdown

New Delhi, Oct 2025 : In one of the most significant public crackdowns on its armed forces, China has expelled nine senior military officials, including Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) He Weidong and CMC member Miao Hua, over “serious violations of discipline and the law,” according to the state-run Global Times.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, stated that the nine officials are suspected of “grave duty-related crimes involving particularly huge amounts of money.” Their cases have been transferred to military procuratorial organs for prosecution. “Their actions were extremely severe in nature and egregious in impact,” Zhang said, emphasizing that the expulsions reflect the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) “zero tolerance” approach to corruption.

The list of officials reads like a roll call of China’s military elite: He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, Wang Houbin, and Wang Chunning. They represent key branches of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including the army, navy, rocket force, and armed police. All nine have been dismissed from both the Party and the military.

According to Global Times, the probe was launched by the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission with the approval of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC. Zhang noted that the action demonstrates the leadership’s “firm determination to carry the fight against corruption through to the end,” adding that the military has become “purer, consolidated, and more combat-effective” as a result.

However, international media have described the expulsions as a “major political earthquake” within the PLA. The BBC highlighted that He Weidong, the second-highest ranking military official after President Xi Jinping and the first sitting Politburo member to be investigated during Xi’s tenure, had not been seen publicly since March, fueling speculation about his fate.

The BBC cited the Chinese Defence Ministry, stating the nine officials were involved in “serious duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money, of extremely serious nature, and with extremely detrimental consequences.” Analysts suggest that while the official justification frames the crackdown as an anti-corruption drive, it also exhibits characteristics of a political purge targeting high-ranking military figures.

The expulsions come just days ahead of the CPC’s Fourth Plenum, set to begin on October 20. The meeting is expected to discuss economic priorities and approve new Party members, serving as a key indicator of how far Xi Jinping’s latest purge has penetrated China’s military and political establishment. Observers say the actions signal the leadership’s determination to consolidate control over the armed forces ahead of critical policy decisions.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)