How Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Could Reshape China’s Global Posture

What will it mean? As I noted earlier in considerable detail, China’s military is undergoing one of the most far-reaching shake-ups of the Xi Jinping era, as a growing number of generals disappear from public view or are formally removed from their posts.

Of the seven men appointed to the Central Military Commission (CMC) in 2022, only two are now believed to remain: President Xi Jinping himself and General Zhang Shengmin.

Zhang Shengmin, the sole remaining uniformed general, has overseen Xi’s military purges and appears tasked with enforcing political discipline and loyalty within the armed forces.

The recent purging of top general Zhang Youxia, alongside another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, has raised fresh questions about the internal power struggles unfolding within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and what they mean for China’s military readiness.

And the speculation keeps growing. Two big questions remain: does Xi’s dramatic purge and consolidation help or hurt his plans to make the PLA a global military force by 2027, and does it help or hurt his goal to retake Taiwan by next year?

And opinions are divided.

Analysts are closely watching the impact on Beijing’s ability to project force, including any ambition to seize Taiwan or engage in a major regional conflict.

The specific allegations against the removed generals have not been made public and may never be disclosed. But General Zhang was unbelievably reported to have disclosed nuclear secrets to the United States.

The BBC reported Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore as saying there was still a lot of speculation about all of it.

“Everything from leaking nuclear secrets to the United States to plotting a coup and factional infighting. There are even rumors of a gunfight in Beijing,” he said.

While the campaign has been framed as an anti-corruption drive, its expanding scope has led many observers to conclude that political loyalty – not just misconduct – is increasingly under scrutiny.

That only Xi and one CMC general remain is unprecedented, according to Lyle Morris from the Asia Society Policy Institute.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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