Xi Jinping's generals face a treacherous political battlefield

Xi Jinping's generals face a treacherous political battlefield


This week's China Up Close looks at the fate of top Chinese generals who have lost their political lives amid intraparty struggles. The way their careers suddenly went dark shows China's political climate may very well be harsher than what the generals might have faced commanding an actual battlefield. The latest example is Gen. He Weidong, whose whereabouts have been unknown for three months now. Video footage of a recent funeral of a former high-ranking military officer indicates that He is no longer treated as a member of the powerful Politburo.
 
Chinese leader Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign had initially targeted generals promoted by his predecessors -- Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. Now Xi appears to be zeroing in on those closer to him, including He Weidong. China's military is in disarray, and the dust has not yet settled from influential figures disappearing one after another.