Xi Jinping's Sweeping Military Purge Leaves China's Armed Forces Weakened
In a dramatic development that echoes the political purges of Mao Zedong's era, Chinese President Xi Jinping has orchestrated a comprehensive cleansing of the country's military leadership, resulting in significant institutional weakening. The investigation of Zhang Youxia, vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), on corruption charges represents the culmination of this three-year campaign that has removed virtually the entire top tier of China's armed forces command structure.
The Unprecedented Scale of the Military Purge
Not since the turbulent years under Mao Zedong has Communist China witnessed such an extensive purge of military leadership. When Xi assumed power in 2012, he pledged to eradicate corruption from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by targeting both high-ranking officials and lower-level personnel. This commitment has evolved into a systematic removal of senior commanders that has fundamentally reshaped China's military hierarchy.
The recent investigation targeting Zhang Youxia, along with fellow CMC member General Liu Zhenli, for "suspected serious violations of discipline and law" represents the latest and most significant development in this ongoing campaign. Zhang occupies a particularly crucial position as China's second-most powerful military figure after Xi himself, with extensive combat experience from the 1978 Vietnam conflict and deep personal ties to the president.
Consequences for Military Leadership and Structure
Should Zhang and Liu be officially dismissed from their positions, the seven-member Central Military Commission would be reduced to just two members: Xi Jinping and anti-corruption officer Zhang Shengmin. This would leave the supreme authority overseeing China's 2-million-strong People's Liberation Army with minimal experienced military leadership at its highest decision-making level.
The purge began gaining momentum in 2023 with investigations into the PLA Rocket Force, which manages China's missile arsenal. Reports emerged revealing shocking deficiencies, including instances where water had been substituted for fuel in some missiles. This initial wave of investigations has now reached its peak with the targeting of Zhang Youxia, who was previously considered one of Xi's most trusted military advisors.
Underlying Motivations Beyond Corruption Allegations
While corruption has served as the official justification for these sweeping removals, China analysts point to deeper strategic disagreements that may have contributed to Zhang's downfall. Observers suggest that Zhang's assessment of the PLA's operational readiness for a potential Taiwan invasion may have conflicted with Xi's reported 2027 deadline for such an operation, according to US intelligence assessments.
This theory gains credibility considering Xi's recent reinforcement of his Taiwan position. On January 1, the Chinese president doubled down on his reunification pledge, declaring that China's territorial integration is "unstoppable." Differences between Zhang and Xi regarding the methodology and timeline for achieving this objective may have ultimately determined the general's fate.
Implications for Military Capability and Regional Stability
The fundamental question emerging from this unprecedented purge concerns the future direction of China's military. While the anti-corruption campaign might theoretically strengthen the PLA by removing corrupt elements, the continuous disruption and removal of experienced commanders could significantly erode institutional cohesion and degrade operational capabilities.
Beyond immediate military considerations, this consolidation of power has profound implications for regional security dynamics. With the removal of experienced military voices from leadership positions, any decision regarding escalation across the Taiwan Strait would depend almost exclusively on Xi Jinping's personal preferences and strategic calculations, potentially increasing regional instability.
As China maintains its characteristic opacity regarding internal military affairs, one conclusion becomes increasingly evident: the People's Liberation Army emerges from this extensive purge in a weakened state, raising serious questions about its readiness for complex military operations and its ability to maintain regional dominance in the coming years.
