‘The so-called Xi faction within the military that took shape after the 20th Party Congress has been essentially wiped out,’ said Cai Shenkun.
With the expulsion of nine top generals on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fourth Plenum, ongoing power shifts within the military leadership appeared to reach a climax. But a far broader purge is now underway, according to a whistleblower, who says that many more senior officers are implicated.
On Oct. 18, U.S.-based veteran political commentator Cai Shenkun—who has ties within the CCP establishment—told The Epoch Times that in addition to the nine generals already named, four more are now under investigation.
These include Xu Xueqiang, head of the Equipment Development Department; Xu Qiliang, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department; Xu Xisheng, political commissar of the Rocket Force; and Xiao Tianliang, president of the National Defense University.
In addition, nine lieutenant generals and 15 major generals have reportedly been dismissed—among them Zhong Shaojun, former director of the General Office and currently political commissar of the National Defense University.
“There are still hundreds of generals waiting in line for investigation,” Cai said. “The so-called Xi faction within the military that took shape after the 20th Party Congress has been essentially wiped out.”
Cai, who has previously revealed accurate information about power shifts within the CCP and the military, cited reliable sources claiming that Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman He Weidong and CMC Political Work Executive Deputy Director He Hongjun have died. He Weidong reportedly died of a sudden heart attack; he had a history of poor health and had undergone a kidney transplant. He Hongjun reportedly died by suicide.
These claims have not been officially confirmed by the authorities.
On Oct. 17, China’s Ministry of Defense announced that He Weidong, former CMC Political Work Department head Miao Hua, and seven other senior officers were suspected of serious duty-related crimes involving “particularly massive sums.” All nine were expelled from the CCP, and had already been stripped of their military status by the CMC.
The generals removed from both Party and military ranks include: He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin (executive deputy director of the Joint Operations Command Center), Lin Xiangyang (commander of the Eastern Theater Command), Qin Shutong (Army political commissar), Yuan Huazhi (Navy political commissar), Wang Houbin (Rocket Force commander), and Wang Chunning (commander of the People’s Armed Police).
By Olivia Li
