Xi Jinping’s latest military reshuffle has reached an unprecedented point, with China expelling a sitting Politburo member for the first time, signaling a significant consolidation of political control within the country’s top leadership, according to analysts such as Ian Chong of the National University of Singapore.
Story Snapshot
- China expelled two top generals, including the first-ever sitting Politburo member, in massive corruption probe
- Central Military Commission reduced to just four members after removing nine senior officials total
- Xi Jinping consolidates unprecedented control over military leadership ahead of major party meetings
- Cases transferred to military prosecutors with more investigations expected as purge continues
Historic Military Purge Eliminates Xi’s Rivals
Chinese state media announced Friday that Gen. He Weidong, vice chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and Politburo member, along with Adm. Miao Hua, had been expelled from both the Communist Party and the military. This is the first known instance of a serving Politburo member being placed under investigation for corruption, which experts such as Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute interpret as part of Xi’s ongoing effort to strengthen political discipline within the military. The timing, just three days before closed-door Central Committee meetings, reveals the calculated political nature of these moves.
Military Leadership Decimated by Corruption Probe
The investigation extends beyond the two generals, covering nine senior military officials in total and temporarily reducing the Central Military Commission’s operational capacity, according to data from Chinese state announcements. As of mid-October, the Central Military Commission is functioning with four members, including Xi Jinping, down from its usual seven, according to official listings released by the Communist Party’s Organization Department. He Weidong disappeared from public view in March 2025, while Adm. Miao Hua was quietly removed from the CMC in June, suggesting this investigation has been building momentum for months.
Pattern of Authoritarian Control Expansion
The recent dismissals are consistent with Xi’s decade-long use of anti-corruption initiatives to strengthen party discipline and ensure loyalty among senior ranks, a trend documented by analysts such as Minxin Pei of Claremont McKenna College. Earlier removals, such as those of former Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu in 2024 and former CMC vice chairs Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong in the mid-2010s, reflect Xi’s ongoing effort to centralize control within the party’s highest military organs, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal and Reuters. The Defense Ministry spokesperson’s emphasis on “unwavering resolve” to fight corruption masks what appears to be a calculated political strategy to ensure absolute loyalty within military ranks.
Implications for Regional Security
While corruption certainly plagues China’s military, particularly in procurement and promotions, the scope and timing of this purge raises concerns about military effectiveness and decision-making stability. Analysts at the RAND Corporation caution that the departure of multiple senior officers could temporarily affect decision-making processes within the People’s Liberation Army, especially amid ongoing regional tensions involving Taiwan and the South China Sea. For American policymakers and military leaders, understanding these internal power dynamics becomes crucial for assessing China’s military capabilities and Xi’s grip on power as he continues dismantling institutional checks on his authority.
China expels two top-ranked generals from military in graft probe https://t.co/MjFT9bVsv1
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 17, 2025
The cases have been transferred to military prosecutors, with investigations ongoing and further prosecutions expected. Analysts view this as a notable phase in Xi Jinping’s consolidation of military oversight, with U.S. security experts such as Michael Swaine of the Quincy Institute emphasizing the importance of understanding its implications for China’s regional posture and civil-military governance.
Sources:
2 top generals among 9 punished by China amid graft probe in military
China expels two top-ranked generals from military in graft probe
China expels two top-ranked generals from military in graft probe
