Wang Youqun: Where Has Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong Gone?

On March 4, 2025, He Weidong attended the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (Photo credit: Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images)

[Dajiyuan] As of May 1, He Weidong, a member of the CCP Politburo and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has been “disappeared” for 51 days.

He Weidong’s whereabouts have become a major mystery and a topic of widespread international attention, following a series of similar disappearances among high-ranking Chinese party, government, and military officials, including former State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang and former Defence Minister and CMC member Li Shangfu in 2023.

He Weidong Has Missed at Least Five Key Events

1. Absence from the Forum on the Anti-Secession Law

On March 14, the CCP held a forum in Beijing marking the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Anti-Secession Law. Attendees included Politburo Standing Committee member and National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji; Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and head of the United Front Work Department Shi Taifeng; Secretary of the Secretariat, State Councilor, and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong; and CMC member and Chief of the Joint Staff Department Liu Zhenli.

This was a high-level meeting that served as a political statement against so-called “Taiwan independence.” He Weidong, who oversees political work in the military as CMC Vice Chairman and is a key figure in Xi Jinping’s strategy for a potential military takeover of Taiwan, would have been expected to attend—but did not.

2. Absence from the CMC’s Collective Tree-Planting Activity

On April 2, the CMC leadership participated in its 43rd collective tree-planting activity in the capital. Politburo member and CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, as well as CMC members Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin, attended. He Weidong was absent.

3. Absence from the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference

From April 8 to 9, the Central Conference on Peripheral Diplomacy was held in Beijing. Xi Jinping attended and delivered a speech. Other attendees included Politburo Standing Committee members Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, along with Vice President Han Zheng.

In the CCTV news broadcast, Politburo members were seen seated in the front row, including CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia. He Weidong was missing.

4. Absence from the National “Double Support” Model City Naming Conference

On April 23, the CCP held a national conference to honour model cities and counties for their “double support” work (supporting the military and giving preferential treatment to military families).

Only one CMC leader, First Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, was seated on the podium. “Double support” falls under the category of political work in the military—an area directly overseen by He Weidong. His absence was again notable.

5. Absence from the Politburo Collective Study Session

On April 25, the CCP Politburo held its 20th collective study session, focusing on the development and regulation of artificial intelligence.

CCTV’s footage showed that out of the 24 Politburo members (including seven Standing Committee members), only He Weidong and Wang Yi were absent. Wang Yi was abroad visiting Central Asia, which explained his absence. There was no valid reason given for He Weidong's.

Foreign Media Reports on “Where Did He Weidong Go?”

On March 13, Zhao Lanjian, a former Chinese journalist now residing in the U.S., posted an “exclusive revelation” on X (formerly Twitter): “According to authoritative sources, He Weidong, a member of the 20th CCP Politburo and Vice Chairman of the CMC, was taken away immediately after the National People’s Congress closed on March 11 while returning to the August 1st Building! His residences in both Beijing and Shanghai have been searched. The situation is extremely tense.”

Zhao added: “He Weidong has long been a key member of Xi Jinping’s inner circle in the military. He previously served as commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, directly responsible for Taiwan Strait affairs. His sudden removal signals another wave of high-level purges within the Chinese military!”

On March 14, Zhao reported again: “The news of He Weidong’s arrest has been confirmed by a second source.”

On March 15, U.S.-based independent commentator Cai Shenkun said on his media program that he initially couldn’t verify Zhao’s claims. However, a friend in China sent him a voice message confirming that He Weidong was indeed in trouble, and that the news had already circulated among top military officials. The same friend had previously tipped him off early about the arrests of Li Shangfu and Miao Hua.

On March 25, The Washington Times cited two U.S. Department of Defence officials saying that U.S. intelligence agencies believe He Weidong, who had vanished from public view for more than ten days, had been purged. Reports by Newsweek and The Washington Times also stated that He was believed to be under investigation.

On April 10, the Financial Times reported, citing six informed sources, that He Weidong had been dismissed from his post. One source said that He has been under interrogation since his detention.

CCP’s Response to “Where Has He Weidong Gone?”

On March 27, in response to foreign media reports about He Weidong being investigated, Chinese Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Wu Qian said, “There is no such information, and I am not aware of the situation.”

Back on November 26 last year, the Financial Times reported that Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun was under investigation for alleged corruption. On November 28, when a foreign reporter asked about Dong’s whereabouts, Wu Qian responded sharply: “Such reports are purely fabricated. The rumour-mongers harbour sinister motives. China is strongly dissatisfied with such slanderous acts.”

However, this year, when responding to foreign media’s reports on He Weidong being investigated, Wu Qian neither refuted nor denied them—he did not even express “strong dissatisfaction.” Though he did not directly answer the question, his vague response amounted to a tacit admission that something had indeed happened to He Weidong.

On April 24, a reporter from AFP asked: “He Weidong has not made a public appearance for more than a month. Can China confirm his status or whether he is under investigation for corruption?” Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang replied: “We have previously responded to this question.”

From Zhang’s reply, it is clear that he also did not deny the reports.

He Weidong, a member of the Politburo and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is the third-ranking figure in China’s military, subordinate only to CMC Chairman Xi Jinping and First Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, and above millions of PLA personnel. If He Weidong had not fallen or been investigated, spokespeople like Wu Qian and Zhang Xiaogang, who dare not offend him, would have certainly done everything they could to uphold his reputation and authority. However, both of them declined to defend him in any way when asked. To those familiar with how Chinese officials speak, it is natural to conclude: He Weidong has likely been taken down, but the spokespeople have not yet received authorisation to publicly disclose it.

My Five Observations on 'Where Has He Weidong Gone?'

1. He Weidong is very likely under investigation for serious disciplinary and legal violations.
Given his absence from at least five major events over a span of 51 days, foreign media reports of his downfall, and the awkward responses from the Ministry of National Defence, it is highly probable that He Weidong has indeed been investigated and removed.

2. He Weidong’s downfall is a symbolic sign of Xi Jinping losing control of military power.
The CCP has always adhered to the belief that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Within the system, whoever controls the military is the real leader.

Since taking power, Xi Jinping has tried relentlessly to consolidate his control over the armed forces.

He Weidong was Xi’s top military confidant—personally fast-tracked, exceptionally promoted, and heavily relied upon. At the 20th Party Congress in 2022, He was not even a delegate but leapt three ranks in one go, becoming a Central Committee member, Politburo member, and CMC Vice Chairman. His rise was entirely due to Xi’s favour.

Last November, another close military confidant of Xi, CMC member and head of the Political Work Department, Miao Hua, also fell.

With both He and Miao gone, Xi has lost his top aides in the military—a near-fatal blow to his military control.

Australian-based legal scholar Yuan Hongbing cited insider sources claiming that on the first day Miao Hua was detained and interrogated, he stayed up all night confessing and initially implicated over 80 military personnel. With assistance from his three secretaries, the total rose to 1,300 officers, including nearly 100 generals and lieutenant generals. Many of them had been promoted directly by Xi or his allies.

It’s possible that He Weidong was one of those implicated by Miao Hua—and that He himself may have implicated others after being detained.

As I previously analysed, the one leading the purge of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and their associates is likely First Vice Chairman of the CMC, Zhang Youxia.

After reports last July that Xi Jinping suffered a stroke and was hospitalised, Zhang Youxia, with the backing of dissatisfied party elders, princelings, and senior military figures, became a pivotal player in steering the political situation.

3. He Weidong’s downfall reflects the CCP military's incurable corruption.
After Xi came to power in 2012, he launched a major anti-corruption campaign, with military “tigers” (senior officers) as key targets.

By the 20th Party Congress in 2022, Xi had purged at least 160 senior military officers, including former Politburo members and CMC Vice Chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong. This number exceeds the total number of generals who had fallen in battle, during civil wars, or the Cultural Revolution since the CCP established its military in 1927.

However, not long after the 20th Party Congress, new waves of purges began—from the Rocket Force scandal to the downfall of CMC member Miao Hua and now CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong. Dozens or even hundreds of senior officers may have fallen again.

This shows that corruption within the PLA has reached an unprecedented, irreversible peak. No one can stop it now.

4. He Weidong’s “disappearance” reveals that the CCP only serves the elite, not the Chinese people.
How the CCP handles He Weidong, who is a Politburo member and CMC Vice Chairman, is purely internal business and irrelevant to ordinary Chinese citizens.

The Chinese people have no right to know. If the CCP doesn’t want the public to know, then no one will. The public has no right to supervise. The process by which He Weidong is being handled—whether legally or with respect for human rights—is entirely a black box. How much money he embezzled, if any, remains unknown to the public.

They also have no right to criticise or make suggestions. All media is state-controlled. The public has no channels for voicing any concern or comment.

He Weidong’s “disappearance” once again shows that the CCP only represents the interests of its own elite, not those of the Chinese people.

5. He Weidong’s “disappearance” proves that the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition movement was justified.
In 2019, Hong Kong saw its largest-ever protest movement—the Anti-Extradition Bill Movement. Protesters feared that if extradition laws were passed, Hongkongers could be sent to mainland China and subjected to opaque legal procedures—“disappeared” without fair trial or basic human rights. People feared being taken away and never seen again.

Since the 20th Party Congress in 2022, numerous top CCP officials across party, government, and military sectors—including Politburo member and CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong—have themselves been “disappeared.” Under CCP rule, enforced disappearances are no longer limited to ordinary citizens. Now, even high-level party and military officials face the same treatment. In hindsight, the people of Hong Kong weren’t just defending their own rights—they were, indirectly, also defending the rights of CCP officials.

Sadly, the same officials who supported Beijing’s violent crackdown on the Hong Kong movement—including He Weidong—never imagined that the same fate would eventually befall them.

Conclusion

Where is CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong? This question has shattered all the sycophantic praise about Xi Jinping’s supposed wisdom and greatness. It has fully exposed the absurdity of the CCP’s personnel system. It has been revealed that the CCP’s so-called anti-corruption campaign only fuels more corruption. It has made clear that the CCP does not represent the Chinese people. It has demonstrated how the CCP’s violent suppression of legitimate protests in Hong Kong and mainland China has come back to haunt its own top officials.

The CCP, with its Marxist ideology of struggle, is constantly engaged in internal and external conflicts. From Mao Zedong to Deng Xiaoping to Xi Jinping—there has never been peace.

Since coming to power, Xi has purged many high-ranking officials. Now, even his closest allies in the military—his top two confidants—have fallen. The ultimate question remains: What will become of Xi himself?

(Originally published by Dajiyuan)