Chinese President Xi Jinping’s efforts to curb the influence of an influential military group that once helped his rise to power were made clear at the Chinese Communist Party’s conference in October. More than 60% of the scheduled officers were absent.
There was a similar absence on November 5, when Xi attended the commissioning ceremony for China’s third aircraft carrier Fujian in Hainan province in the South China Sea.
In photos taken with Mr. Xi at the ceremony, two People’s Liberation Army commanders who were supposed to take part in the ceremony were Chinese Navy Commander Hu Zhongming and Wu Yan’an, commander of the Southern Theater Command, where Fujian Province commands operations.
Both men were also absent from the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which was held in Beijing from October 20 to 23.
“If we don’t fight corruption with an iron fist, there will be no limit to future problems,” Xi said at the General Assembly, stressing the need to strengthen control over the party and military.
The Central Committee holds a general meeting at least once a year, attended by about 200 members, the most senior members of the party. The Fourth General Assembly is the fourth meeting after the National Congress of the Communist Party, which is held every five years.
Of the 42 military and reserve officers who were members of the Central Committee at the time of the 4th Plenary Session, 27, or more than 60%, were absent, including Mr. Wu and Mr. Hu.
Eight of them were former party members who had been forced out of their party or military positions for “serious violations of discipline.” Among them was He Weidong, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Mr. Miao Hua, former member of the Central Military Commission. and Lin Xianyang, former commander of the Eastern Theater Command, which oversees the Taiwan Strait.
The three belonged to the former 31st Army Group, headquartered in Xiamen City, Fujian Province. They were part of the Fujian faction, a group that emerged during Xi Jinping’s time in Fujian province.
On October 17, China’s Ministry of Defense announced the expulsion of nine people, including these three, from the Communist Party. The measure was aimed at demonstrating the military’s ability to eradicate corruption by the fourth plenary session.
Most party members who were absent from the fourth plenary session may be detained by Chinese authorities. A diplomatic source in Beijing said, “During the investigation into corruption within the Hokkien faction, many people were identified.”
Almost 60% of those absent had worked in districts or military departments where Mr. He and Mr. Miao previously worked and still exercised influence.
Half of them are related to the Eastern Theater. He and Miao served in the former Nanjing Military Region, the predecessor of the Eastern Theater District, for more than 40 years. The other half corresponds to Miao’s previous workplace, the former Lanzhou Military Region, Navy, Military Commission Political Work Department, based in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. These absentees, who were promoted under Mr. Nae in the Political Works Department, which handles human resources, may be suspected of corrupt practices, such as making appointments in exchange for bribes.
Mr. Xi trusted and promoted the Fujian Group. President Xi recognized Miao’s achievements and promoted him to the Central Military Commission in 2017. In 2022, Mr. Xi appointed Mr. He as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and one of 24 members of the party’s powerful Politburo.
This apparent crackdown comes despite Xi Jinping’s long-standing support for the military establishment.
Lim Jae-hwan, a professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo, said, “The existence of the Hokkien faction may have been seen as a potential threat to Mr. Xi, who is trying to strengthen his control over the military.”
The military’s loyalty is essential to Xi Jinping, who has not ruled out using force to unify Taiwan and mainland China. The growing influence of the Hokkien faction, which has a strong influence on Taiwan-related operations, may have been a cause for concern.
Among the notable military absences at the Fourth Plenary Session was the absence of a military official with experience in the Rocket Force, which is responsible for nuclear weapons and missiles, which has caused problems for Xi in the past.
In October 2024, Xi Jinping inspected a rocket military base in Anhui province and emphasized the need for strict discipline. His visit followed the expulsion of senior party officials for corruption at the third general meeting three months ago.
However, corruption was discovered among the successors of these commanders, leading to further “purges”. The military has undergone four top purges since the Rocket Force was created under Xi Jinping’s leadership about a decade ago.
A Japanese security official said, “The revelation of corruption in the military is a betrayal for Mr. Xi, who has insisted on strict discipline.” “The repression will probably continue.”
The Central Military Commission was reconstituted to seven members in October 2022 to coincide with the start of Mr. Xi’s third term, but was reduced to four members with the ouster of Mr. He, Mr. Miao, and former Defense Minister Li Shangfu. There is a view that Mr. Xi will not replace any of these members at the fourth plenary session, and that the four-person system will continue for some time.
“From Mr. Xi’s point of view, the smaller the CMC leadership structure, the easier it is to control,” said Lim, a professor at the university. “Real power will become increasingly concentrated in Mr. Xi’s hands.”
About The Author
