"OPINION - Last week's Fourth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party witnessed a purge of China's senior military leaders, culminating in over two years of the removal of senior military officials once loyal to President Xi Jinping. The last two defense ministers - Wei Feng he and Li Shangfu - were removed in October 2023 and June 2024. And now, , Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) was expelled from the Party and Military for "serious violations of Party discipline.""
"The list goes on and on: Lin Xiangyang, Former Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command; Wang Houbin, Former Commander of the PLA Rocket Force; Wang Chunning, Former Commander of the People's Armed Police. These are just three of eight or nine senior military officers purged in October 2025. Purges of senior officials are not new to China. On July 1, 1989, Zhao Ziyang was removed as the Party's General Secretary"
The Fourth Plenum triggered a sustained purge of senior People's Liberation Army and military-affiliated officials, removing figures once considered loyal to President Xi Jinping. Multiple recent removals included Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu, a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission expelled for "serious violations of Party discipline," and Admiral Miao Hua, who was removed and later expelled. Several purged generals served in the 31st Group Army in Fujian Province, a region described as the front line for any potential military operation. Historical precedents include the removals of Zhao Ziyang in 1989 and Lin Biao in 1971.
Read at The Cipher Brief
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