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Xi addresses military leadership shake-up
Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly referenced the recent removal of top military officials for the first time, calling the past year "unusual and extraordinary" during a virtual address to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday.
High-profile generals ousted
General Zhang Youxia, once considered Xi's closest military ally, was dismissed in January on charges of "serious violations of discipline and law," a phrase commonly used to describe corruption. Zhang, 75, served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the country's highest military body led by Xi.
Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, was removed alongside Zhang. The purge follows a broader crackdown in October 2025, when nine top generals-including CMC members-were stripped of their posts under the guise of an anti-corruption campaign.
Military leadership decimated
Records show that 14 full-rank generals have been sacked or investigated in the past three years. The latest removals have reduced the seven-member CMC to just two officials, one of whom is Xi himself.
Xi framed the purges as part of a "revolutionary tempering" of the military, claiming the PLA had effectively countered "various risks and challenges" and undergone "in-depth political rectification." He praised troops for remaining "loyal to the Party" and proving "capable and dependable."
Motives behind the crackdown
While Xi has long positioned anti-corruption efforts as a cornerstone of his leadership, critics argue the campaigns serve as a tool to eliminate political rivals. The president has repeatedly described corruption as the "biggest threat" to the Communist Party, calling the fight "grave and complex."
"The language surrounding the purges offers little clarity about internal dynamics-whether it's genuine corruption, political infighting, or outright purges,"
Professor Chong Ja Ian, National University of Singapore
Analysts suggest the public acknowledgment of the crackdown is intended to signal control to Party cadres and the broader population, despite the disruptions to military readiness.
Unusual transparency
Xi's remarks, delivered as part of his annual Chinese New Year greetings to the PLA, mark his first public reference to corruption in such an address since 2022. The president rarely engages with media, even state-controlled outlets, making Tuesday's statement particularly notable.
Experts believe the timing reflects an effort to reassure elites amid concerns over the military's operational capacity following the purges. The removals have raised questions about the PLA's ability to execute combat operations in the near term.
