Sudden Death of Former Top Chinese Military Leader and Low Profile Funeral Raise Eyebrows
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While state media attributed Xu’s death to illness, observers point to inconsistencies and questionable details surrounding his passing and funeral service, indicating that there could be more to the situation.
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xu, the former vice chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), died of illness on June 2 at noon in Beijing at the age of 75. The announcement was brief and offered no details about the nature of his illness.
His funeral was held on June 8 at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, the country’s most prestigious cemetery for top officials and so-called national heroes. All seven members of China’s highest decision-making body, the Politburo Standing Committee, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping, made an appearance at the funeral.
Conflicting Accounts of Xu’s Death
Shortly after the official announcement of Xu’s death, veteran Beijing-based media figure Ma Ling shared a private post on Chinese social media claiming that Xu had suffered a heart attack while jogging inside his residential compound and could not be revived.The discrepancy has fueled suspicion that authorities may have delayed the announcement to control the narrative or manage political fallout.
Xu relied on medication to sleep and lived in fear that the crackdown would eventually implicate his family and former subordinates, the source said.
Power Shifts Behind Xu’s Death
Shen Mingshi, acting deputy chief executive officer at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times that it was unlikely that Xu died from doing physical exercises such as jogging, as Chinese officials of his rank typically receive exceptional and routine medical care.“His death is probably connected to the ongoing military purges,” Shen said.
He ruled out assassination by Xi himself but offered two other theories.
“One possibility is that Xu, once a key ally of Xi in purging rival factions, became fearful of retaliation from those he helped eliminate.
“Another possible reason for Xu’s death is that Zhang Youxia, who now controls the military, feared that Xi might use Xu to rally military personnel for a counterattack to regain power, so Zhang moved first against Xu.”
Born in March 1950, Xu rose through the ranks of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force to become chief of staff, commander, and eventually a member of the Politburo and vice chairman of the CMC. He retired in March 2023.
Public records and expert analyses reveal that Xu was central in reshaping China’s military during Xi’s earlier anti-corruption campaigns. He led the consolidation of key units, including the Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force. However, both have since been rocked by anti-corruption probes and restructured altogether.
Zhao noted that the funeral was managed discreetly within the CMC, without military honors or attendance by top military officials, reflecting Xu’s “ambiguous and politically awkward position.”
He remarked that the simple ceremony was beneath Xu’s rank, indicating a decline in his political status. “This was not a dignified farewell but a politically expedient erasure amid a purge,” Zhao wrote. “It was less a moment of honor and more a rushed burial of a once-powerful legacy.”
Missing Wreath from Xu’s Successor
The conspicuous absence of He Weidong’s name from the list of those who sent a funeral wreath has heightened speculation. State broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing all the wreaths sent by the 24-member Politburo, and He’s name was the only one missing.
As Xu’s successor and the current CMC vice chairman, He has not been seen in public for several months, prompting a wave of unverified rumors, including allegations of suicide and speculation about his detention or possible investigation. However, no official confirmation has been issued.
“This shows He Weidong is no longer a member of the Politburo and no longer entitled to the treatment that comes with that status. The only explanation is that he’s had an incident—or is already dead,” Cai wrote.
