Top Chinese Military Official Close to Xi Rumored To Have Been Arrested
11 hours ago
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Senior Chinese military official He Weidong is rumored to have been arrested.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment outside of office hours.
Why It Matters
If confirmed, the detention of He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)—a five-member body led by Chinese President Xi Jinping that controls the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)—would mark another major shake-up in China’s military leadership.
His rise is widely believed to have been aided by his association with Xi during Xi’s tenure in Fujian, where He was stationed and became part of the so-called Fujian clique. He went on to become the head of the military’s Eastern Theater Command, responsible for operations related to Beijing-claimed Taiwan.
He Weidong, right, second-ranked vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, attends the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2025. He Weidong, right, second-ranked vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, attends the closing session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2025. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images
What To Know
Zhao Lanjian, an independent investigative journalist whose work includes shedding light on the “chained woman” incident in Xuzhou, said two sources had independently confirmed He’s arrest.
An investigation into He’s secretary is also underway, Zhao said, speculating about: “Possible leaks of classified information?”
He added that Zhao Keshi, former Minister of the General Logistics Department, which oversaw military logistics, supplies, and infrastructure, has also been taken into custody. The department was dissolved in 2016 and reorganized into several other departments.
He previously served in the now-defunct Nanjing Military Region, which included forces stationed in Fujian province.
If confirmed, the detentions will likely fuel speculation about Xi Jinping’s grip on the military and discussions of potential power struggles within the PLA.
In November 2024, another Central Military Commission member, Miao Hua, former head of the Political Work Department, was placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline”—frequently a euphemism for corruption.
What People Are Saying
Victor Shih, director of 21st Century China Center and Ho Miu Lam Chair at the University of California San Diego’s Global Policy and Strategy Center, wrote on X: “This He Weidong rumor is quite incredible and yes if he falls, others will also. In the military at least, Xi will need to move beyond a factional model for control as [former Chinese Communist Party Chairman] Mao [Zedong] had to do.”
Tony Nash, CEO and founder of Complete Intelligence, an AI-driven forecasting platform, wrote on X: “If true, this is a major blow to Xi’s inner circle. If true, we may expect major changes in Taiwan policy.”
What’s Next
It is unclear whether Beijing will formally confirm the statuses of He and Zhao in the near future. Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang and ex-Defense Minister Li Shangfu were not formally stripped of their posts until weeks after they disappeared from public view in summer 2023.
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