Worrisome!-----Cronyism and Failed Promotions: Xi’s PLA Purge

The Ministry of National Defense announced on October 17 that nine generals—including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua—had been expelled from the Party and the military. - K. Tristan Tang

Executive Summary:

• The purge centers on personnel mismanagement and alleged job-related crimes, highlighting systemic corruption within the PLA’s political work and promotion system.
• Many of the officers shared prior service ties in the Eastern Theater Command area and the former 31st Group Army, forming an improper network around He and Miao.
• The campaign marks Xi Jinping’s most visible effort yet to tighten control over the PLA’s personnel system, raising the question of whom Xi can still trust within his own military ranks...