Internal Chaos in the CCP: Xi Jinping Promoted 79 Generals — Over 20% Have Already Been Purged

March 11, 2023: Senior members of the CCP’s Central Military Commission line up to take the oath at the National People’s Congress. From right to left: Zhang Youxia, He Weidong, Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua, Zhang Shengmin. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[Dajiyuan] The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is facing ongoing internal turmoil within its military ranks, with a continuous stream of rumours about purged generals. A tally shows that since Xi Jinping took power, he has promoted 79 generals to the rank of full general (shang jiang). So far, at least 10 have been publicly dismissed or investigated, and at least 12 others are rumoured to be under scrutiny, indicating that over 20% have been purged or sidelined.

Number of Purged Generals Continues to Grow

On May 8, 2025, the CCP’s Political and Legal Leadership Cadre Seminar opened. State broadcaster CCTV coverage showed that two prominent “Xi loyalists”—Wang Renhua, Secretary of the Central Military Commission's Political and Legal Affairs Committee, and Wang Chunning, Commander of the People’s Armed Police—were conspicuously absent.

Exiled anti-CCP activist Edwin H. Chiang (尹科), based in Australia, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 7, 2025, claiming that Wang Renhua and the Political Commissar of the People’s Armed Police, Zhang Hongbing, are under investigation.

Since late 2024, Wang Chunning has repeatedly missed key political and public security meetings. On December 2, 2024, former Chinese journalist Zhao Lanjian had already disclosed via X that Wang Chunning had been arrested.

Over the past two years, many top military officials have initially “disappeared,” with overseas sources revealing their downfalls before official confirmation. In most cases, the regime handles their removal quietly, often without a public announcement—some are simply dismissed.

Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s Up Media on March 8 that it is now common in the CCP system to “handle things internally,” with many cases resulting in secret trials or even executions.

On November 28, 2024, Ministry of Defence spokesperson Wu Qian announced at a regular press briefing that Central Military Commission member and head of the Political Work Department, Miao Hua, had been “suspended for inspection.” On April 30, 2025, Miao Hua was stripped of his position as a National People’s Congress delegate.

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong, disappeared after the March 2025 “Two Sessions” (annual legislative meetings). Shortly after, Zhao Lanjian reported that He had been detained. The Financial Times confirmed on April 10 that He had been dismissed and was under continuous interrogation.

On April 24, Zhao Lanjian further revealed that a joint investigation into the “factional politics” of Miao Hua and He Weidong had been communicated throughout the military, with shocking charges. The PLA is reportedly undergoing its most severe “purge” in years.

Commentator Li Yanming wrote in Dajiyuan on May 12 that Wang Renhua, known to have been promoted by Miao Hua, likely fell as collateral damage in the investigation. The CCP’s Fourth Plenary Session is expected to convene this fall, during which the details of the Miao and He cases may be officially revealed. The military purge is likely to intensify.

Xi Jinping Promoted 79 Generals — Over 20% May Have Been Purged

Looking at the number of generals promoted to the highest rank during different CCP administrations: Jiang Zemin promoted 79, Hu Jintao promoted 45, and Xi Jinping has so far promoted 79.

Dajiyuan has tallied that of the 79 generals promoted by Xi Jinping since he took power, at least 10 have already been officially removed or investigated.

These include, in recent years: Former Defence Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu; Former Air Force Commander Ding Laihang; Two former Rocket Force commanders, Li Yuchao and Zhou Yanning; Political Work Department chief Miao Hua; Former Strategic Support Force Commander Ju Qiansheng and former Rocket Force Political Commissar Xu Zhongbo, both dismissed before retirement age (though not officially declared under investigation)

Earlier purges included: Former Southern Theatre Political Commissar Wei Liang; Former Guangzhou Military Region Commander Xu Fenlin, both reportedly demoted to retirement status, according to Hong Kong’s Ming Pao in 2018.

In the past two years, 12 more generals have been rumoured to be under investigation: CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong; Former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong; Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi; Former CMC General Office Director Qin Shengxiang; Western Theater Commander Wang Haijiang; Eastern Theatre Commander Lin Xiangyang; Former Southern Theater Commander Wang Xiubin; CMC Political and Legal Affairs Secretary Wang Renhua; Political Work Department Executive Deputy Director He Hongjun; People’s Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning and Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing; Rocket Force Commander Wang Houbin.

Adding all these up, at least 22 of the 79 generals have “had issues,” which means over 20% have been purged, by conservative estimates.

Exiled Chinese political commentator Chen Pokong stated on his media program on May 12 this year that most of the previous rumours about the downfall of military generals have turned out to be true. Many of the full generals promoted by Xi Jinping during his 13 years in power are now in prison.

Is Zhang Youxia Targeting Xi, or Is Xi Purging His Own?

Since the CCP’s 20th Party Congress, senior generals across all branches have been investigated in waves. Some observers believe that Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the CMC, may be behind a counterattack against Xi’s faction, with the backing of CCP elders.

Political commentator Chen Pokong said: “I believe the downfall of many of Xi’s appointees suggests anti-Xi forces are exerting influence. But there’s another view—that it’s Xi Jinping purging his own men. In other words, Xi is turning on himself, since these people were all handpicked by him.”

Chen added: “If Xi is doing this to clean up corruption in preparation for a war on Taiwan, it’s a huge mistake. Because, without democratisation or checks and balances, corruption is systemic. Xi fighting himself only creates more chaos for his regime.”

Commentator Tang Jingyuan analysed in his media program that this round of purges, from the CMC vice chair down, appears to be a sweeping “pot-cleaning” operation—all targeting Xi’s own people. “What kind of rational General Secretary would be foolish enough to cripple his own military by jailing all his loyalists?”

Former PLA Navy Lieutenant Commander Yao Cheng wrote on X on May 12: “There is much debate about the true extent of Xi Jinping’s power. Power in China is divided into Party, government, and military spheres. In my view, Xi has lost control over the military. Almost all of his trusted confidants in the armed forces have been purged. Though he remains Chairman of the Central Military Commission, he no longer wields real power...”

Editor: Li Renhe