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Xi Unleashes China’s Biggest Purge of Military Leaders Since Mao

On a crisp April morning in Beijing earlier this year, China’s most senior military leaders gathered for a routine tree-planting ceremony that ended up providing a rare glimpse into the secretive world of power politics under President Xi Jinping. Ahead of the event, reports spread that He Weidong — the second-highest ranking uniformed officer in the People’s Liberation Army — was the latest casualty of a sweeping purge that had already taken down two former defense ministers. Less than three years ago, Xi had appointed He as a vice chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC) over more senior generals, indicating he was one of the president’s chosen men to run the Communist Party’s armed forces.

Full report : Xi Unleashes China’s Biggest Purge of Military Leaders Since Mao.

Tagged: China