Free Republic

China has purged the number two general in the People’s Liberation Army and eight other senior commanders, in a big shake-up by President Xi Jinping as he intensifies his anti-corruption drive within the military.Xi formally fired General He Weidong, the junior of two vice-chairs of the six-member Central Military Commission. The removal was the first time in six decades that such a high-ranking general has been purged while in office.He Weidong was third in command of the PLA, which is led by Xi in his capacity as chair of the CMC. He was also a member of the Communist party’s...

He Weidong was China second highest ranking official in the militaryThe Chinese Communist Party has expelled nine top generals in one of its largest public crackdowns on the military in decades.Nine men were suspected of serious financial crimes, a statement released by China's defence ministry said.Most of them were three-star generals and part of the party's decision-making Central Committee. They have also been expelled from the military.While the statement cast the expulsion as part of an anti-corruption drive, analysts say it could also be seen as a political purge. It comes on the eve of the party's plenum where the...

One of the Chinese military’s two most senior leaders has disappeared from public view. U.S. intelligence agencies think he is the latest victim of a political purge in the upper ranks of the People’s Liberation Army, according to defense officials. Gen. He Weidong, one of two vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, the Chinese Communist Party’s military control organization, disappeared from public view more than 10 days ago. His disappearance has been the subject of rumors for a week. Two officials confirmed that President Xi Jinping is purging Gen. He. Mr. Xi is chairman of the CMC. The comments...