Where is General He Weidong? Questions rise on disappearance of China’s top general amid Xi’s anti-corruption purge

Second-ranked vice chairman He Weidong (Credit: SCMP)

Top Chinese officials going missing is not a new phenomenon. In the most recent instance, there were worries about the whereabouts of General He Weidong, one of the nation's top military leaders, when he was conspicuously absent from a significant political event.

This comes after he missed the yearly tree-planting ceremony on the outskirts of Beijing, which has been a springtime ritual for China's military leadership for more than 40 years.

An analyst quoted by the South China Morning Post noted that while Beijing has not provided an official explanation for General He Weidong's absence, it is unlikely to impact China's political stability.

General He Weidong, the 67-year-old senior Chinese military official and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has not been seen in public since March 11.

He has had a long career in the People's Liberation Army, serving in key roles such as commander of the Jiangsu Provincial Military District and the Shanghai Garrison.

In 2016, he was appointed deputy commander of the Western Theatre Command, later rising to vice-chairman of the CMC in October 2022 under President Xi Jinping. His appointment to such a high-ranking position without following the usual party hierarchy has raised some eyebrows.

General He Weidong is believed to be closely aligned with President Xi Jinping and is reportedly part of the "Fujian faction" within Xi's leadership circle, according to a report by Nikkei. This faction is thought to include officials who have strong ties to Xi's home province of Fujian.

Experts and Chinese observers suggest that General He's disappearance is linked to President Xi's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

China's anti-corruption efforts under President Xi Jinping continue to focus on high-ranking military officials within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Among those removed from their positions is Miao Hua, the director of the Central Military Commission's political work department, who came under investigation in November.

In March, Tang Yong, the deputy head of the military’s anti-corruption body, was dismissed from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an action that raised suspicions of corruption. Former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were also investigated in June 2024. Li, who served as the shortest-serving defense minister, was dismissed in October 2023 after disappearing from public view.