China’s No. 3 Military Chief’s Absence Stokes Speculation About Xi’s Grip on Power

Gen. He Weidong, a longtime ally of the CCP leader, has been missing from the public eye for almost two months.

Gen. He Weidong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), attends the opening ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on March 4, 2025. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images

News Analysis 

The mysterious disappearance of China’s third-ranked military leader is sparking questions about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime’s stability.