Xi's Purge of Chinese General: Smuggled 10 Tons of Weapons, Sex Scandals & Witchcraft to Escape!

From the son of a poor family to one of China's most powerful military leaders, only to end his days in the misery of a life sentence, this is the dramatic rise and fall of Guo Baxiong, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China. Feared and respected in his heyday, Guo was considered a big tiger in the military. Over the years, he amassed an astonishing fortune, over 100 billion yuan, approximately 14 billion dollars, including 62 properties and 11 massive land plots spanning 75,000 square meters. But power came at a cost. Behind the scenes, Guo lived in constant fear, haunted by the knowledge that his corruption could one day catch up with him. And then the inevitable happened. At his trial in July 2016, the once mighty Guo Baxiong was a shadow of his former self. Gone was the arrogant and commanding military leader. Instead, a frail old man stood trembling before the court, sobbing uncontrollably as he received his life sentence. From wealth and power to humiliation and disgrace, Guo Baxiong's story is a stark reminder that even the most untouchable figures can fall. Guo Baxiong was born in 1942 in Shanxi province, a northwestern region of China. He came from a poor, working-class family with many siblings. After graduating from high school, he worked as a laborer at a naval equipment factory before eventually joining the military. In 1961, Guo started as an ordinary soldier in the 55th Division of the 19th Army Corps, a position with little prestige. Yet he wasn't just another foot soldier. He quickly advanced through the ranks by being strategic, observant, and adept at ingratiating himself with his superiors. By 1982, he had maneuvered his way to chief of staff of the division. And within just three years, he became deputy chief of staff of the Lanzhou military region. But Guo wasn't satisfied with merely securing regional power. He had far greater ambitions. To reach the top in China's political and military system, talent wasn't enough. Guo Baxiong understood this better than anyone. He knew that success came not from skill on the battlefield, but from knowing who to impress and how to do it. The target of his ambitions? Jiang Zemin, the most powerful man in China at the time. Guo knew that Jiang Zemin thrived on flattery. Seizing the opportunity during Jiang's visit to Shaanxi, Guo meticulously crafted his moment to make an impression. While the supreme leader was resting, Guo dismissed all security personnel and personally stood guard outside Jiang's door. For two hours, he remained motionless, ignoring fatigue, discomfort, and even the call of nature, all in a bid to demonstrate unwavering loyalty. When Jiang woke up and saw Guo still standing at attention, he was deeply impressed. That single act of devotion sealed Guo's future. Not long after, Guo was transferred to Beijing as deputy commander of the Beijing military region, marking a significant leap forward in his career. He soon became the first general in the military to publicly declare his loyalty to Jiang Zemin, reinforcing his status as one of Jiang's most trusted military allies. His reward? A swift promotion to commander of the Lanzhou military region. By September 1999, Guo secured a seat in the Central Military Commission, CMC, as deputy chief of staff, further solidifying his influence at the national level. By 2002, Guo Baxiang had reached the very top. He was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, one of the most powerful positions a military officer could hold in China. Notably, Guo Baxiang's meteoric rise to power aligned with the period when the Chinese Communist Party, CCP, under Jiang Zemin's leadership, launched a nationwide crackdown on Falun Gong, a spiritual practice rooted in Buddhist teachings centered on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, along with meditative exercises. As a high-ranking military leader, Guo was a key enforcer of Jiang's persecution policies, playing a pivotal role in executing and intensifying the CCP's oppressive campaign. As vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, with the ultimate shield of Jiang Zemin's trust, Guo Baxiang freely amassed wealth and indulged in every luxury imaginable during his tenure. With absolute control over personnel appointments in the General Staff Department and the General Armament Department, Guo shamelessly engaged in selling military ranks and accepting bribes. The prices for promotions under Guo Baxiang's rule were clear. A major general rank cost between 5 to 10 million yuan. A lieutenant general title ranged from 10 to 30 million yuan. Those who paid the most got the position, regardless of experience or competence. One striking example involved a major general from the Nanjing military region who paid Guo 10 million yuan to be promoted to lieutenant general. Guo initially agreed. However, when another officer offered double that amount for the same position, Guo ruthlessly reversed his decision and handed the promotion to the highest bidder. Even the bribery process had rules. Officials would arrive at Guo's home with a security-locked briefcase filled with cash. No words were exchanged. They simply placed the briefcase down and left. The higher the desired rank or position, the more money had to be inside the case. During Guo Baxiang's tenure, he monopolized control over military promotions, prompting his son Guo Zhenggang to brazenly boast at a banquet. More than half of the officers in the military were promoted by my family. As the saying goes, when one man rises to power, his entire clan prospers. Once Guo Baxiang cemented his position, his family members rushed to join the military, rapidly climbing the ranks. His son became deputy political commissar of the Zhejiang military region, his brother-in-law was promoted to major general, his nephew was made deputy division commander in the Lanzhou military region, etc. But bribery and nepotism weren't Guo Baxiang's only sources of wealth. He also raked in massive profits from arms dealing. A whistleblower letter from officers at Xizhou airport revealed, Guo Baxiang pocketed hundreds of billions of yuan from selling military positions, selling defense land, and profiting from arms deals, including weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. One of the most alarming discoveries involved a covert intelligence base in Guangzhou, originally part of the General Staff Department, meant for gathering intelligence in Southeast Asia. Instead, Guo converted it into a black market arms hub, trafficking military-grade weapons for personal gain. One night in April 2012, while on duty along a highway in the Lichuan area, a local police unit discovered a red truck carrying sealed cargo containers. Upon inspection, they found the containers were filled with explosive shells and armor-piercing ammunition. In total, the shipment consisted of 236 containers holding over 12,000 rounds of ammunition, weighing more than 10 tons. This bust exposed Guo's deep involvement in arms smuggling, further confirming his exploitation of military resources for personal profit. One rarely discussed detail in official reports is how much Guo Baxiang personally profited from his role in the persecution of Falun Gong. To sustain this brutal crackdown, Jiang Zemin freely funneled state funds, offering financial incentives to encourage broader participation. Police stations, public security forces nationwide, and personnel from all branches of the Six-Head-Ten office— a secret agency specifically established to suppress Falun Gong— were mobilized on a massive scale. At least several million individuals were involved in abductions, harassment, torture, imprisonment, home raids, and other severe human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners in China. The sheer cost of salaries alone for those involved could have exceeded 100 billion yuan, approximately $14 billion per year. Beyond salaries, the CCP generously rewarded those who actively participated in the persecution. For instance, at Masanjia Forced Labor Camp in Liaoning Province, one of the most notorious sites of abuse, the camp director received a 50,000 yuan bonus, approximately $7, while the deputy director was awarded 30,000 yuan, around $4,200. As a trusted confidant in Jiang's inner military circle, it is evident that a significant portion of Guo Baxiang's immense fortune likely stemmed from his direct involvement in sustaining the persecution. So as one of China's most powerful tigers— a king without a crown in the military— just how much wealth did Guo Baxiang accumulate over his lifetime? According to reports, he was directly involved in 713 cases of selling military positions, amassing over 2.22 billion yuan, approximately 330 million USD, in bribes. Together with Xu Kaihu, another high-ranking military official, Guo established a secret, golden vault containing more than 320 bank accounts. When these accounts were seized in May 2013, they held a total of 79.2 billion yuan, about 11.8 billion USD. In addition to cash assets, Guo possessed bearer bonds worth 15.2 million yuan, gold bars and jewelry totaling 7.5 kilograms, 62 houses and commercial properties, and 11 plots of land covering a combined area of 75,000 square meters. Seven of these properties were co-owned with Xu Kaihu. Investigations concluded that Guo's wealth exceeded 100 billion yuan, approximately 14 billion USD, placing him among the richest individuals in China. But money wasn't Guo's only vice. He was also infamous for his debauchery. Even in his 70s, his private life remained scandalous. Whenever he set his eyes on a beautiful woman, he used his power to have them transferred to military performance troops, where he could keep them as mistresses. Over the years, he maintained relationships with at least 10 young women, handpicked and financially supported by him. He was reported three times for adultery. In 2015, during a search of his residence, investigators discovered over 500 pornographic DVDs and 120 explicit magazines. With an extensive record of corruption, Guo Boxiong lived in constant anxiety and fear, particularly as China's political landscape shifted when Zhang Zemin retired and Xi Jinping came to power. In 2013, Guo sought refuge in superstition, visiting the Shaolin Temple and other renowned temples across China. He prayed fervently and consulted feng shui masters, desperate for guidance on evading legal repercussions. In an attempt to ward off misfortune, he even installed a so-called feng shui cannon at the entrance of his home. That same year, a deputy principal of the National Defense University spent 6 million yuan on a massive jadeite stone as a gift for Guo. The corrupt general then hired one of China's top sculptors, at the cost of nearly 1 million yuan, to carve the jade into a colossal seal, which he named the Dragon Suppression Seal. Guo believed this artifact could subdue higher powers and ensure his protection. His superstition may have been influenced by Zhang Zemin, who, despite orchestrating the brutal persecution of nearly 100 million Falun Gong practitioners, resulting in countless deaths and broken families, shamelessly transcribed Buddhist scriptures and sought blessings from Tibetan lamas for his own well-being. March 2014 was the turning point. Guo's closest ally, Xu Taihou, was arrested, and suddenly, his worst nightmare was becoming a reality. He needed to act fast. Realizing the impending danger, Guo attempted to flee the country by disguising himself as a woman— a desperate plan that ultimately failed. He allegedly received assistance from three senior officials— Chen Hongyan, political commissar of the Beijing military region, Wang Qing, deputy director of the Air Force Logistics Department, and Liu Ziying, deputy director of China's Air Traffic Control Bureau. His escape attempt began at dawn on July 15, 2014. Wearing women's clothing and a wig, Guo boarded a flight from Beijing International Airport to Shanghai, where he planned to transfer to another flight out of the country. However, an official from the Air Traffic Management Bureau In response, Xu ordered the closure of 12 airports across northern and eastern China to prevent Guo's escape, disrupting hundreds of flights. As soon as Guo boarded a plane in Shanghai, security forces stormed the aircraft and arrested him. Placed under investigation in April 2015, Guo was detained in a facility on the outskirts of Beijing. By July 2015, the inevitable happened. He was expelled from the Communist Party, and a year later, in July 2016, he faced the full force of the law. The military court sentenced him to life in prison, confiscating all of his assets. This marked a disgraceful end to the once-powerful military, Tiger, who fell from elite status to a life behind bars. Anti-Corruption or Power Consolidation? Since Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the Chinese government has launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign. Over the years, numerous high-ranking officials have been investigated and removed from office. Among the most prominent figures taken down after 2012 are Zhou Yongkang, former Minister of Public Security, sentenced to life imprisonment. Xu Qihao, former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, died of cancer before facing trial. Sun Zhengcai, former Party Secretary of Chongqing, sentenced to life imprisonment. And Guo Boxiong with a life sentence. Despite its strong rhetoric on fighting corruption, the CCP has never pursued the issue comprehensively. Doing so would threaten the survival of the regime itself. Instead of implementing structural reforms, Beijing has selectively purged certain officials to consolidate power while maintaining the illusion of a clean party. As a popular saying in China goes, if corruption is eradicated, the party will collapse. If corruption is not eradicated, the country will collapse. This phrase encapsulates the CCP's dilemma. If corruption were genuinely eliminated, the entire bureaucratic structure would crumble. As corruption itself is the foundation that ensures loyalty and control within the party. If corruption is left unchecked, the rot within the system will continue weakening the country, leading to economic, social, and political crises. This paradox is irreconcilable, as the CCP itself is the root cause of corruption. According to official statistics, in the first quarter of 2024 alone, over 350,000 officials were investigated and disciplined. Three times the number recorded in the same period in 2023. This included 16 provincial or ministerial-level officials, nearly 1,000 department-level officials, approximately 27,000 county and township-level officials. However, many analysts argue that the anti-corruption campaign is not about cleaning up the system, but rather a political tool to achieve Xi Jinping's objectives. Which include eliminating political rivals, targeting officials loyal to opposing factions, particularly those with ties to Jiang Zemin, maintaining a clean public image, creating the illusion that the CCP is addressing corruption, while in reality, corruption remains widespread, strengthening Xi Jinping's grip on power, ensuring that only his loyalists occupy key leadership positions, and using anti-corruption as a mechanism of control. By frequently publicizing the number of officials being investigated, the Chinese government projects an image of reform and progress. However, in reality, the campaign serves as a political purge, removing those who pose a threat to Xi's dominance, rather than genuinely tackling corruption. Without true political reform, removing a few corrupt officials is merely performative, while systemic corruption remains deeply entrenched. Even the PLA Daily stated, the corruption of Guo Boxiang and Xu Kaihou was indeed severe, but that was not their biggest issue. Their biggest issue was crossing political red lines. Thus, it is evident that within the CCP, the anti-corruption campaign is not truly about eradicating corruption. To effectively tackle the root of the problem, China needs a transparent legal system, an independent press, and genuine public oversight, all of which the CCP adamantly rejects. What are your thoughts on today's topic? Feel free to leave a comment below. 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