Xi Jinping’s Military Purge and its reshaping of China’s Armed Forces

Elenathan Kassa

Staff Writer

China’s highest-ranking generals are undergoing a comprehensive anti-corruption and loyalty initiative. The situation has raised questions regarding the state of the country’s military readiness and corruption according to reporting from Reuters. 

Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping has removed multiple senior officers in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This includes Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli who were accused of “serious disciplinary violations” relating to corruption according to DW News. 

The removals left the Central Military Commission (CMC), the body in charge of all of China’s armed forces, with two functioning leaders: Xi himself and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin, who oversees the anti-corruption campaign. Reuters also noted that three other members of the CMC have either been expelled or are under investigation. According to The Week UK, this has reduced the seven-member commission to just two active figures, creating a military leadership that is severely understaffed at the top. 

Xi has addressed the incident in a rare public speech to the military as reported by Reuters. He referred to the past year as “unusual and extraordinary.” He praised the rank-and-file troops as “trustworthy” and loyal, emphasizing how the PLA must remain under the absolute control of the Chinese Communist Party.  

As noted by the New York Times, the purge has been compared to “uprooting sick trees” and removing “hidden cancer” from armed forces by party officials. It has been portrayed as a necessary step in maintaining discipline and unity. 

DW News underscores the significance of Zhang Youxia’s fall. Zhang rose from an ordinary soldier to one of China’s highest-ranking generals, had combat experience in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, and later commanded major army units before moving to Beijing. He was also considered a longstanding ally of Xi as both were “princelings,” meaning their fathers were senior Communist Party officials. According to the New York Times, his removal demonstrates Xi’s willingness to target trusted allies in order to consolidate control over the military. 

The Mercator Institute for China Studies says the timing of this purge has also drawn much increased interest. Its analysts believe that Xi is aiming to achieve his modernization and combat readiness goals. This coincides with the 100th year anniversary of the PLA and the CCP’s next congress. Rapid removals, even of loyal generals, suggest a sense of urgency to ensure that the military’s top ranks are filled with officers that are fully aligned with Xi’s vision. 

The New York Times has drawn parallels to Mao Zedong’s era. Mao similarly used purges and ideological campaigns to ensure his influence over the party and the military, particularly at the Yan’an revolutionary base. Xi has frequently cited Yan’an in speeches, framing his anti-corruption campaign as a form of “self-revolution” to reinforce loyalty and ideological unity within the PLA. Troops and commanders are also required by officials to study Xi Jinping and report on any violations, creating a culture of strict discipline and compliance.

The purge also raises concerns over the PLA’s operational capacity. The Week UK has raised the possibility that the removal of experienced officers like Zhang leaves the military’s top leadership compromised. It will leave the structure to be composed of politically loyal yet inexperienced figures. Additionally, technical problems in certain units such as the Rocket Force have added to the challenges that the PLA faces in fully implementing Xi’s visions for a modern and high-tech fighting force. MERICS cautions that a leadership disruption at this scale could temporarily weaken China’s ability to conduct military operations, particularly in Taiwan.  

For now, the PLA’s command structure remains in flux. The removal of senior officers has created uncertainty at the highest levels. At the same time, this purge reinforces Xi’s dominance over China’s military.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.