Hello everyone, welcome to “News Perspectives.” Today’s focus is on the promotion ceremony of senior generals by the Central Military Commission, where four senior generals were mysteriously absent. Rumors circulating online suggest that Army Commander Li Qiaoming has been arrested, indirectly confirmed. Is Xi Jinping’s military power further weakening, putting him in a precarious position?
Recently, there has been a notable event in the Chinese Communist Party’s political arena – the promotion ceremony of senior generals by the Central Military Commission held at the Bayi Building in Beijing on December 23. However, four senior generals were conspicuously absent from the ceremony. What hidden stories lie behind their absence?
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, the promotion ceremony of senior generals by the Central Military Commission was held on December 23 at the Bayi Building in Beijing. Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the promotion ceremony. Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, read out the promotion orders signed by Xi Jinping. Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong, presided over the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Xi Jinping presented an order to Army Political Commissar Chen Hui. The report also mentioned that Central Military Commission members Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin, as well as officials from various departments of the military commission and relevant units stationed in Beijing, participated in the promotion ceremony.
However, according to the pro-Communist Hong Kong media “Sing Tao Daily,” four senior generals were absent from the promotion ceremony, including Army Commander Li Qiaoming, former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong, Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi, and Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning. These four senior generals are all members of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, with distinguished backgrounds in their respective military positions. Their absence at such a critical moment, coupled with recent reports surfacing online about the arrest of Army Commander Li Qiaoming, inevitably leads to speculation about the reasons behind these events.
On December 20, former Chinese diplomat Han Lianchao disclosed on X platform that on December 18, the Chinese Army convened a meeting to announce the dismissal of Army Commander Li Qiaoming, Political Department Director Zhao Lei, and Equipment Department Director Zou Geyin, over allegations related to the Miao Hua case, for investigation.
On December 23, information circulated on X platform claiming that Army Commander Li Qiaoming was dismissed, and the power struggle between CCP leader Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia has intensified to a critical point. The specifics of the situation remain unclear.
According to the information, “Regardless of the circumstances, it indicates that since Xi suffered a stroke and lost military power at the Third Plenum, he is now actively planning a counterattack, attempting to regain military authority. If Zhang Youxia fails to decisively take down Xi Jinping, what awaits him will likely be a fate similar to that of Li Keqiang and Primakov.”
The arrest of Army Commander Li Qiaoming is the latest startling high-level reshuffle following the removal of Defense Minister Li Shangfu, Wei Feng and Political Department Director Miao Hua in recent times.
After the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, a group of senior military leaders had fallen from grace, with their removals first reported abroad before being confirmed by the Chinese authorities. Hence, the news of Li Qiaoming’s arrest is likely not baseless rumor.
In addition to the absence of the four senior generals at the senior general promotion ceremony, whether this is a mere coincidence or harbors deeper political maneuvers remains a lingering question.
The impressive background of Army Political Commissar Chen Hui, personally promoted by Xi Jinping, stands out. Starting from the Air Force, he has held positions such as Secretary of the Air Force Discipline Inspection Commission, Political Commissar of the Strategic Support Force Aerospace System Department, and the first Political Commissar of the Military Space Force. He has now ascended to the position of Political Commissar in the Army.
The ceremony was attended by heavyweights such as Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Zhang Youxia, He Weidong, and Military Commission members Liu Zhenli, Zhang Shengmin, among others. Footage from CCTV’s news broadcast showed a front row filled with senior generals, including Defense Minister Dong Jun, Minister of the Military Commission Equipment Development Department Xu Xueqiang, and Rocket Forces Political Commissar Xu Xisheng. Lieutenant General Lin Huanxing from the National Defense University was seated in the third row.
However, the absence of the four senior generals has drawn special attention. The absence of these senior generals has become the biggest suspense of the event, especially given their significant influence in the military. Qin Shutong, at 62, stepped down as Army Political Commissar before reaching the retirement age of 65, without any public announcement of his whereabouts. Prior to this, both Qin Shutong and Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi had been absent from a provincial-level cadres’ conference at the end of October. Wang Chunning, the Armed Police Commander, was similarly absent from a video conference of the National Public Security Organs on November 21.
These series of absences have sparked widespread speculation. All four generals are members of the 20th Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and hold considerable influence within the military. The 63-year-old Army Commander Li Qiaoming once served as the 41st Group Army Commander and held the position of the Army’s first Northern Theater Commander.
Former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong had previously served as Deputy Political Commissar of the 31st Group Army, Political Commissar of the First Group Army, and Director of the Army Political Work Department.
63-year-old Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi worked his way up from Navy Marine Corps Political Commissar to the Eastern Theater Air Force Political Commissar before reaching his current position.
As for 61-year-old Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning, he boasts an illustrious history as the 12th Group Army Commander and Commander of the Beijing Garrison.
The absence of these figures undoubtedly adds countless mysteries and conjectures to the ceremony. According to the “Sing Tao Daily,” the identities of these absentees are extraordinary, each capable of shifting the landscape significantly. Li Qiaoming’s absence, particularly as the Army Commander, has undoubtedly stirred up waves in the military. The other individuals are also prominent figures within the military, and their absence hints at the anti-corruption campaign within the Chinese military in recent years, where many corrupt leaders have been successively toppled, becoming targets of political purges.
A confidential insider revealed, “Recently, there has indeed been a series of reviews and rectifications within the Military Commission, targeting entrenched military factions.”
As early as 2015, Xi Jinping initiated a large-scale military anti-corruption campaign, arresting and punishing several senior military officials. Historically, when the center of power appears unstable, it is usually accompanied by purges and rectifications, reminiscent of the later stages of the Cultural Revolution.
Last year, dozens of generals from the Rocket Forces were removed from their positions, including two Defense Ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Feng, two Rocket Forces Commanders, Li Yuchao and Zhou Yaning, as well as former Air Force Commander Ding Laihang. Most recently, Central Military Commission member and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua was suspended for serious disciplinary violations, signaling the onset of a new wave of internal military purges.
In light of this, former official of the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Wang Youqun, analyzed in an article on Da Ji Yuan on how Li Qiaoming’s possible arrest not only further weakens the military power of CCP leader Xi Jinping but also places him in a precarious position.
In his analysis, Wang Youqun noted that Li Qiaoming is someone favored by Xi Jinping. Since taking office in 2012, what Xi values most is wresting military authority, previously controlled by Jiang Zemin, into his own hands. Li Qiaoming emerged during this process and was repeatedly promoted and trusted by Xi.
In January 2016, shortly after Xi’s military reforms, Li Qiaoming, then the 41st Group Army Commander, was promoted by Xi to become the first Northern Theater Commander of the Army. Just a year and a half later, in August 2017, he was promoted by Xi to become the Northern Theater Commander, becoming the first post-60s Theater Commander at that time. Setting a precedent of advancing directly from the Army Corps Commander to the Theater Commander.
In December 2019, Li Qiaoming was further promoted by Xi to the rank of Army General. Li Qiaoming rose from Major General to Lieutenant General in 6 years, and then from Lieutenant General to General in just two years and five months.
Li Qiaoming held the position of Northern Theater Commander for a remarkable five years and one month (from August 2017 to September 2022), making him one of the longest-serving Theater Commanders among high-ranking officials in Xi’s military overhaul. This underscores the importance Xi placed on Li Qiaoming.
In September 2022, Li Qiaoming took on the role of Army Commander, expanding his authority from the Northern Theater to overseeing all Army units nationwide, including the Army in the five Theater Commands, as well as the Beijing Garrison Guard Brigade, and composite units in the Xinjiang Military Region and Tibet Military Region. This move signifies Xi’s special appreciation for Li Qiaoming or may indicate an attempt to constrain Zhang Youxia.
In his article, Wang proposed that since this summer, Xi Jinping suddenly fell ill and was unable to carry out his duties. Zhang Youxia, along with CCP senior figures and the Crown Prince faction, took prompt action to seize military power, becoming a critical force influencing the political situation within the CCP. Under Zhang Youxia’s leadership this summer, four major changes have taken place in the Chinese military:
1. The central figure of Xi’s inner circle, long-standing aide who followed Xi – Secretary of the CMC General Office, Director of the Chairman’s Office, Zhong Shaojun, was reassigned from a pivotal military position. This was seen as cutting off Xi’s “left arm” in the military.
2. The removal of Xi’s “trusted confidant,” CMC member and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua. This was perceived as cutting off Xi’s “right arm” in the military.
3. Replacement of three Theater Commanders out of the five major Theater Commands resulted in military chaos to counteract Xi’s power base.
4. The transfer of “capable assistants” aiding Xi in the military purge – CMC Discipline Committee dedicated Deputy Secretary, Supervision Committee Director Chen Guoqiang, to serve as the political commissar of the National Defense University.
Because Miao Hua is Xi’s “trusted confidant,” Zhang Youxia seized the opportunity to expand his gains by targeting associates of Miao Hua. Consequently, several generals related to Miao Hua have been rumored to be under investigation.
1. It was rumored that Eastern Theater Commander Lin Xiangyang (Lieutenant General) was taken away for inspection by the military discipline inspection committee, with speculations of Lin having committed suicide or being forced to.
2. Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning (Lieutenant General) was rumored to be taken away for inspection. On December 1, former media personnel Zhao Lanjian revealed on X platform, “Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning has been reliably detained.”
3. The whereabouts of former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong remain unknown. This may confirm the rumors of Qin Shutong being investigated.
4. Two Navy Political Commissars Qin Shengxiang (Lieutenant General) and Yuan Huazhi (Lieutenant General) were reportedly under investigation. Yao Cheng mentioned on X, “There are signs showing that Zhang Youxia is targeting the Navy, with rumors circulating that former Navy Political Commissar Qin Shengxiang and current Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi are being investigated. Both were promoted under Miao Hua’s tenure as Navy Political Commissar.”
Therefore, Wang believed that if Li Qiaoming had indeed been arrested, it would not only further diminish the military authority of CCP leader Xi Jinping but also put Xi in a precarious position. “In 2025, the situation regarding Xi’s destiny may become clear.”
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