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China Ousts 14 Senior Officials as Party Plenum Elevates Zhang Shengmin to CMC Vice Chair

Officials cast the purge as an anti-corruption push that strengthens Party control of the military.

Overview

  • The Fourth Plenum confirmed expulsions of nine top People’s Liberation Army officers and five civilian cadres for serious violations, with all cases referred to the Military Procuratorate.
  • Those removed include Politburo member and CMC vice chairman He Weidong, former political work chief Admiral Miao Hua, and former agriculture minister Tang Renjian.
  • China’s Defense Ministry said the alleged offenses involve an extremely large sum of money and caused grave harm.
  • Zhang Shengmin, a veteran disciplinarian from the Rocket Force, was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission to replace He.
  • Eleven Central Committee members were expelled in a single session, the largest such renewal since 2017, as the plenum also set the next five-year policy blueprint.