Former Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe emerges after months of speculation
- The rocket army veteran’s name on a funeral wreath is a small but significant sign in an opaque system where indirect appearances matter
- Wei retired shortly before China’s military purge swept up his successor and senior Rocket Force officials and has been absent for months
In a prime-time news bulletin on state broadcaster CCTV, Wei’s tribute was visible among those from other former state councillors at the side of the funeral hall, with wreaths from President Xi Jinping and other incumbent officials in the middle.
Li, who like Wei spent most of his career in the PLA’s rocket wing, was also stripped of his rank as a state councillor and removed from top decision-making body the Central Military Commission (CMC).
Wei’s indirect reappearance indicates he may have escaped the purge of the People’s Liberation Army’s top brass, including commanders of the rocket force – which manages China’s nuclear arsenal – that followed Li’s disgrace.
Direct and indirect appearances in official settings are important indicators of political fate in China’s opaque system, where little information is given away.
The annual formality is usually reserved for retired senior officials who have achieved state councillor rank or above.
His predecessors – former defence ministers Chang Wanquan, Liang Guanglie, Cao Gangchuan and Chi Haotian – all featured in the list released by state news agency Xinhua.
The PLA purge included Zhou Yaning and Li Yuchao, the rocket force commanders who succeeded Wei after his promotion to defence minister in 2018, a position he held until his retirement in 2023.
China removes 9 PLA generals from top legislature in sign of wider purge
In its first communique of 2024, released in February, the NPC Standing Committee confirmed that all nine were involved in corruption investigations.
All previous defence ministers have received the political status of membership on the CMC, which is chaired by Xi.