In a major move, Chinese President Xi Jinping has dismissed General He Weidong, a top-ranking officer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). According to The Financial Times, this is the most significant step so far in Xi’s anti-corruption drive within the military.

General Weidong was the second most senior officer in China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and also held a top position in the Central Military Commission (CMC), one of the most powerful military bodies in the country. According to sources familiar with the situation, this is the first time in over 60 years that a sitting vice-chair of the CMC has been removed from office. He was also part of the Politburo, the Communist Party’s top decision-making group. Although the Chinese government has not confirmed it, several sources report that General Weidong was detained and questioned, possibly due to corruption. His absence from recent public events has raised questions about his position.

According to analysts, Xi is attempting to ensure that the military is committed to the Communist Party and prepared to face international problems. Neil Thomas, a China expert, said, “This shows how serious Xi is about fighting corruption in the military.” In the past two years, President Xi has removed several top military officials, including two leaders of the PLA Rocket Force—which manages part of China’s nuclear weapons—and two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu. Reports suggest they were all removed due to corruption. Other senior officials have also been dismissed recently, such as former foreign minister Qin Gang, who was once seen as close to Xi. These actions have led some people to think that there might be growing unrest or instability in China’s leadership.

The removal of General Weidong comes at a time when China is dealing with major issues like economic troubles and increasing tensions with the United States. In such a situation, it becomes even more important for China’s leaders to keep the military united and firmly under control. Last year, there were reports that Dong Jun, the current defence minister, was also being investigated. But now, sources say he has been cleared and was recently seen in Beijing meeting with Pakistan’s air force chief. The Chinese government has not yet said anything about General Weidong’s situation, so many people are still unsure about what will happen next in this major anti-corruption campaign.