As of March 20, 2025, China is experiencing a significant escalation in its ongoing military purge, with reports confirming the arrest of high-ranking generals, including Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman He Weidong, one of the most senior figures in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This development marks a deepening of a broader crackdown that has seen numerous top military officials detained, signaling an intensifying power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its armed forces. Below is a detailed exploration of this unfolding situation, its causes, and its implications.
Key Developments in the Purge
The arrest of He Weidong, reported on March 17–18, 2025, represents a dramatic escalation. As Vice Chairman of the CMC—the body that oversees the PLA and is chaired by Xi Jinping himself—He Weidong was among the most powerful military leaders in China. His detention follows a wave of earlier purges targeting senior PLA officials, including:
- Fujian-Based Generals: Multiple generals from Fujian, a province historically tied to Xi Jinping’s power base during his tenure as governor there (1985–2002), have been arrested. This is notable because Fujian’s military leadership has long been seen as loyal to Xi.
- Western Theatre Command: The Deputy Commander of this strategically vital command, responsible for India and Central Asia borders, has been detained.
- Eastern Theatre Navy Commander: This official oversaw naval operations in the sensitive East China Sea and Taiwan Strait regions.
- CMC Science and Technology Committee: The Deputy Director and other senior figures linked to military innovation have also been swept up.
- General Logistics Department: Former Minister Zhao Keshi, a key figure in military resource management, was reportedly arrested alongside He Weidong.
Additionally, He Weidong’s secretary is under investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, suggesting the purge may extend beyond corruption to include breaches of security or loyalty.
This latest wave builds on purges that began in 2023 when figures like former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Rocket Force commanders were removed amid corruption allegations. By March 2025, the scope has widened to include Xi’s inner circle, raising questions about the stability of his grip on the PLA.
Reasons Behind the Purge
The deepening military purge appears to stem from a combination of corruption, factionalism, and Xi Jinping’s relentless drive to consolidate power. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Corruption in the PLA:
- Corruption has long plagued the PLA, particularly in procurement and logistics. The Rocket Force, overseeing China’s nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal, has been a focal point since 2023, with allegations of graft in equipment contracts worth billions. He Weidong and Zhao Keshi’s arrests suggest this issue extends to the highest levels of logistics and strategic oversight.
- Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, a hallmark of his rule since 2012, has already felled dozens of generals. The current purge indicates that systemic corruption persists despite these efforts, undermining Xi’s vision of a “world-class” military by 2050.
- Power Struggle and Factionalism:
- The targeting of Fujian-based generals—once considered Xi loyalists—hints at an internal power struggle. Analysts speculate that Xi may be turning on former allies to preempt challenges to his authority, or that an anti-Xi faction within the military is gaining traction, prompting a defensive crackdown.
- The PLA’s historical role as a kingmaker in CCP politics (e.g., Lin Biao’s failed coup against Mao in 1971) underscores its potential to threaten centralized control. Xi’s repeated emphasis on “absolute loyalty” to the Party—echoed in his June 2024 remarks to military leaders—reflects this concern.
- Geopolitical Pressures:
- With tensions rising over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and India’s border, Xi cannot afford dissent or inefficiency in the PLA. The arrests may be a preemptive move to ensure a reliable chain of command ahead of potential conflicts, drawing lessons from Russia’s corruption-weakened performance in Ukraine.
- Personal Control:
- Xi’s direct leadership of the CMC and his appointment of loyalists like He Weidong (promoted in 2022) suggest a personalization of military power. The purge could reflect dissatisfaction with these appointees’ performance or loyalty, prompting Xi to tighten his grip further.
Implications for China
The deepening purge has far-reaching consequences for China’s military, political stability, and global standing:
- Military Readiness:
- The removal of experienced generals like He Weidong, who played a key role in modernizing the PLA, could disrupt operational continuity. The Rocket Force, Eastern Theatre Command, and logistics sectors—all critical to China’s deterrence and warfighting capabilities—are now leaderless or under scrutiny, potentially weakening short-term readiness.
- Internal Stability:
- The purge’s expansion into Xi’s Fujian base and the CMC suggests cracks in his once-unassailable authority. If loyalists are being targeted, it may signal dissent or paranoia within the CCP elite, destabilizing the regime at a time when economic challenges (e.g., a slowing economy) already strain public trust.
- Global Perception:
- Internationally, the purge exposes vulnerabilities in China’s military modernization drive, which Xi has backed with a defense budget exceeding $230 billion in 2024. Rivals like the United States and India may see this as an opportunity, while allies might question the PLA’s reliability.
- Long-Term Effects:
- While disruptive now, a successful purge could strengthen Xi’s control, yielding a more disciplined and loyal PLA. However, if corruption and factionalism persist, the PLA’s transformation into a “world-class” force could falter, echoing the Soviet military’s decline under Stalin’s purges.
Broader Context
This purge aligns with Xi’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign, which has removed over 1.5 million officials across government and military sectors. Since 2023, the PLA has been a particular focus, with high-profile cases like:
- Li Shangfu (2023): The former Defense Minister was expelled from the CCP for bribery linked to equipment procurement.
- Rocket Force Purge (2023–2024): Multiple commanders were sacked amid allegations of substandard missile systems.
- Miao Hua (Late 2024): Another CMC member was suspended for corruption, showing the crackdown’s reach into Xi’s elite circle.
The timing—shortly after the Two Sessions in March 2025, China’s key political event—underscores its political weight. Over a dozen military delegates were absent from the National People’s Congress, a public signal of the purge’s scale.
