Recent Military Purge (January 2026)

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China’s ongoing military purge reached a critical point on 24 January 2026 with the announcement that General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), longtime ally of Xi Jinping, and fellow “princeling,” is under investigation for “grave violations of discipline and law.” At the same time, General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, was also targeted.

While the purge has unfolded in waves since 2023—encompassing the Rocket Force scandal, two former defense ministers, He Weidong’s expulsion in October 2025, and multiple senior officers—Zhang’s downfall is unprecedented. He was Xi’s closest military confidant, retained his post beyond retirement age, and was one of the few senior PLA leaders with real combat experience from the 1979 Vietnam border war.

Key Drivers

  • Absolute loyalty: Xi is signaling that political reliability outweighs expertise or personal ties. Targeting a trusted “sworn brother” underscores that no one is immune and eliminates any potential independent power centers.
  • Corruption narrative: Endemic graft in procurement, promotions, and arms deals remains the official justification, though specifics remain opaque.
  • Control and insecurity: Amid heightened Taiwan tensions, Xi seeks a more ideologically disciplined PLA. Analysts debate whether this reflects strategic consolidation, generational turnover, or growing paranoia.

Immediate Impact

  • CMC hollowed out: From Xi plus six generals in 2022, the leadership has effectively shrunk to Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the chief purge enforcer.
  • Operational disruption: Command continuity and institutional memory have been severely weakened, slowing modernization, joint operations, and decision-making.
  • Short-term restraint: The internal disarray may reduce the likelihood of near-term military escalation, including over Taiwan.

Longer-Term Implications

  • Power consolidation: Strengthens Xi’s unchallenged dominance ahead of the 2027 Party Congress, potentially paving the way for a fourth term.
  • Rebuilt loyalty: The purge aims to reshape the PLA through tightly vetted promotions, prioritizing obedience over experience.
  • Strategic risk: Raises doubts about succession stability and whether the purge reflects real threats—or deepening elite insecurity.

Overall, this represents the most extensive PLA shake-up since the Mao era: a high-risk gamble that prioritizes political control over immediate military readiness—celebrated domestically as an anti-corruption victory, but viewed externally as destabilizing for China’s armed forces.

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