With Xi Jinping’s purge, China’s military is weakened

As vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Zhang Youxia is not just China’s second-most powerful figure in its military (after President Xi Jinping). By all accounts, the country’s highest-ranking general is among the few commanders with extensive combat experience (Vietnam, 1978), and his personal ties with Xi run deep. Recent revelations that Zhang, along with fellow CMC member General Liu Zhenli, is under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law” cap Xi’s three-year purge of the entire top tier of China’s military leadership, ostensibly on corruption charges. Should Zhang and Liu be officially dismissed, the seven-member CMC, which holds supreme authority over the 2-million-strong People’s Liberation Army (PLA), will be left with only two members: Xi and the anti-corruption officer, Zhang Shengmin. Not since the era of Mao Zedong has Communist China witnessed a purge of this magnitude.

When Xi assumed power in 2012, he vowed to eradicate corruption in the PLA by cracking down on both “tigers and flies”. Another round of purges began in 2023 in the PLA Rocket Force, which oversees China’s missile arsenal, with reports emerging that water had been used instead of fuel in some of its missiles. This wave has culminated in the removal of Zhang, who, until now, was one of Xi’s most trusted aides. While corruption has been given as the formal justification, China watchers point to another possible factor: Zhang’s assessment of the PLA’s operational readiness for a Taiwan invasion may not have aligned with Xi’s deadline, which, according to US intelligence, is 2027. On January 1, Xi had doubled down on his Taiwan pledge, reiterating that China’s “reunification” is “unstoppable”. Differences between Zhang and Xi over how to achieve this objective may have sealed the former’s fate.

China is a black box. Yet one thing is clear: The Chinese military stands weakened. The question, now, is where the PLA goes from here. Will the supposed anti-corruption drive strengthen the force, or will continued disruptions erode cohesion and degrade capability? Beyond operational considerations, what is also evident is that any decision regarding escalation across the Taiwan Strait will rely exclusively on Xi and his personal preferences.

Overall Analysis

The editorial analyses the sweeping purge underway in China’s military leadership and argues that President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of control has, paradoxically, weakened the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). It opens by establishing the stature of Zhang Youxia, underscoring his combat experience and personal closeness to Xi. This contextual framing gives weight to the shock value of his investigation, signalling that the purge has now reached even the most trusted figures at the very top of the military hierarchy.

The editorial then situates this development within the broader pattern of Xi’s long-standing anti-corruption campaign. While corruption is cited as the official justification, the language remains sceptical, hinting at deeper political and strategic motives. References to earlier purges in the PLA Rocket Force and the startling details about missile readiness are used to reinforce the narrative of institutional dysfunction rather than reform. The comparison with Mao-era purges adds historical gravity and suggests the exceptional scale of the current crackdown.

In its analytical core, the editorial introduces a strategic dimension: possible disagreements over the PLA’s preparedness for a Taiwan invasion. By juxtaposing Xi’s public insistence on “unstoppable reunification” with intelligence assessments and internal dissent, the author implies that loyalty and alignment with Xi’s timeline may matter more than professional military judgment. The language here is cautious yet probing, relying on inference rather than direct accusation.

The final paragraph widens the lens to assess the implications of these purges. Describing China as a “black box” conveys opacity and uncertainty, but the editorial is firm in its conclusion that repeated disruptions at the top weaken cohesion, morale, and decision-making. It ends with an unsettling observation: power over war and peace across the Taiwan Strait is becoming increasingly personalised, resting solely on Xi’s preferences rather than institutional deliberation.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Purge – the removal of people considered undesirable, often for political reasons.
2. Ostensibly – apparently or claimed to be so, but possibly not in reality.
3. Culminated – reached a final or decisive point.
4. Operational readiness – the state of being prepared for military action.
5. Cohesion – the ability of a group to remain united and function effectively.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial contends that Xi Jinping’s aggressive purge of senior military leaders, though framed as an anti-corruption drive, risks hollowing out the PLA by undermining trust, expertise, and institutional stability. It warns that such centralisation of power could have serious consequences for regional security, particularly concerning Taiwan.

Tone: Analytical, sceptical, and cautionary.