Tue Oct 28 03:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
The Hindu: Analysis From India
Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Drive Purges Top Military Brass, Sparking Concerns Over Readiness
Beijing, China – October 28, 2025 – A major shakeup within the Chinese military has sent ripples of concern through international security circles, as President Xi Jinping continues his sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Nine high-ranking military commanders, including a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), have been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and are facing investigations into alleged duty-related crimes involving “extraordinarily large sums of money,” according to an announcement by Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang on October 17th.
The purge targets some of the highest-ranking officials in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including He Weidong, member of the CPC Politburo and Vice Chairman of the CMC, Miao Hua, former Director of the CMC Political Work Department (PWD), He Hongjun, former Executive Deputy Director of the CMC PWD, Wang Xiubin, former Executive Deputy Director of the CMC Joint Operations Command Center, and Lin Xiangyang, former Commander of the Eastern Theater Command.
According to Anushka Saxena, writing for the Takshashila Institution, the expulsions represent the latest move in a decade-long series of purges targeting corruption within the PLA and CMC. The CMC, the most powerful body overseeing the PLA and China’s national security, is now under intense scrutiny. The removal of officials, especially a CMC Vice-Chairman like He Weidong, a close associate of President Xi, raises questions about the impact on military efficiency and preparedness.
Sources say the expulsions are rooted in a desire to reinforce Party ideals and discipline, aiming to transform the PLA into a “world-class” fighting force. Some commentators see a continuation of the fight against corruption that began with the downfall of former CMC vice-chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.
Further analysis suggests a factional element at play. Several of the targeted officials, including He Weidong, Miao Hua, Lin Xiangyang and Wang Xiubin, are believed to be part of a “Fujian gang,” a network with ties to Xi Jinping’s past tenure in Fujian province. This group is reportedly deeply involved in China’s Taiwan war plans and the goal of “reunification.” This “Fujian gang” now faces pressure from a rival “Shaanxi gang” in the military, led by CMC first vice-chairman Zhang Youxia.
The sheer scale of the purge, targeting such high-ranking officials, and the apparent connections between them have raised concerns that deep-seated corruption at the leadership level could impact morale and combat readiness within the PLA. Particularly, the impact on preparedness regarding Taiwan is a concern.
Experts anticipate that President Xi will likely intensify purity-related measures within the PLA, consolidating more units under the direct control of the CMC. The situation remains fluid as China grapples with internal power dynamics and seeks to project strength on the global stage.
First Piper 