Pentagon Anticipated China's Military Shake-Up, Highlighting 'Uncertainty' Before Xi's Purge
The United States Department of Defense had raised alarms about the removal of senior officers in China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) a month before President Xi Jinping's latest crackdown on the military's top brass. According to the Pentagon's most recent annual report on China's armed forces, these dismissals had "caused uncertainty over organisational priorities" and "reverberated throughout the ranks of the PLA." This foresight came just weeks before China's defence ministry announced an investigation into General Zhang Youxia, the country's highest-ranking general, over "grave violations of discipline and the law."
Investigation into Top General Follows Pentagon Warnings
Over the weekend, reports emerged that General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a close ally of President Xi, is under official investigation. The Washington Post indicated that the probe stems from allegations of leaking information related to China's nuclear weapons programme to the United States. China's defence ministry confirmed the investigation but provided no further details, also noting that another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, is under scrutiny.
This development follows the expulsion of nine top generals in October, marking one of the largest public crackdowns on the military in decades. With the latest purge, the CMC has been reduced from seven members to just two: Xi Jinping as chair and Zhang Shengmin, who oversees disciplinary affairs. The Pentagon's report, published in December, had already highlighted that corruption in Chinese defence procurement led to "observed" capability shortfalls, such as malfunctioning lids on missile silos.
Pentagon Report Details Corruption and Disruptions
The Pentagon's annual report on military and security developments in China included a specific section titled 'PLA Corruption Developments' on page 25. It stated, "The PLA has continued to experience corruption-related investigations in every service, which have led to the removal of dozens of general officers. By late 2024, corruption issues had again reached the level of the CMC." The report added that multiple senior officers and defence industry executives have not been seen at public events, suggesting ongoing investigations.
According to the Department of Defense, these investigations "very likely risk short-term disruptions in the operational effectiveness of the PLA." However, it also noted that the PLA could emerge as a more proficient fighting force in the future if it uses the current campaign to eliminate systemic corruption issues. The report emphasised that the removals have decreased China's leaders' confidence in the reliability of PLA leadership, potentially impacting progress toward the 2027 modernisation goals, which include plans related to Taiwan.
Widespread Purge of Military Leadership
Beijing has detained or suspended multiple members of its Central Military Commission in a sweeping anti-corruption drive. In March 2025, CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong was reportedly detained and has not made public appearances since. He shared oversight responsibilities with Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia over the CMC's departments and commissions. Additionally, in November 2024, Admiral Miao Hua, head of the CMC Political Work Department, was suspended on suspicion of "serious violations of discipline."
The Pentagon report detailed numerous other removals:
- In 2023, at least 10 officers were dismissed from the National People's Conference, including then-Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu and nine general officers.
- In 2024, at least four more officers were removed from the NPC, along with a theatre deputy commander, a PLA Army deputy commander, and a retired deputy commander.
- Several military members of the CCP Central Committee have been placed under investigation, including General Xu Zhongbo, General Qin Shutong, Admiral Yuan Huazhi, and General Wang Chunning.
These actions indicate that Beijing is willing to purge the military of perceived disloyalty, regardless of the disruptive impact on the PLA. The total number of PLA leaders removed for corruption or unprofessional conduct is difficult to assess, but expulsions from party and state bodies serve as a barometer for the extent of the crackdown.
The allegations against General Zhang were reportedly outlined during a closed-door briefing attended by senior military officers, shortly before China's Ministry of National Defence announced the investigation. As the purge continues, the PLA faces significant challenges in maintaining operational effectiveness while undergoing this extensive leadership overhaul.
