China’s President Xi Jinping has launched yet another sweeping purge of the military, expelling nine top generals including the country’s second-highest-ranking officer in what can be called as one of the largest public crackdowns on the armed forces in decades.
The nine senior officials were accused of “seriously violating party discipline” and showing a “total collapse of beliefs,” according to a scathing editorial in the PLA Daily, the military’s official newspaper. The piece said their actions had “dealt a serious blow” to the army’s unity, the Communist Party’s authority over the armed forces, and “the image of senior military cadres.”
The announcement, made days before the Communist Party’s Fourth Plenum in Beijing, marks a dramatic escalation in Xi’s decade-long campaign to root out corruption and, critics say, disloyalty within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The timing is politically charged: Xi, who chairs the Central Military Commission (CMC), is reshuffling power within both the Party and the military ahead of key personnel changes.
Who has been purgedThe nine generals expelled from both the Party and the military are some of the most senior figures in China’s defence establishment:
According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, the nine were involved in “extremely serious crimes” and “exceptionally large sums of money.” Their cases have been referred to military prosecutors.
Why Xi is cleaning house again
While the Defence Ministry framed the expulsions as part of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign , analysts suggest deeper motives: a mix of political control, paranoia, and military insecurity.
The PLA Daily accused the generals of betraying the fundamental principle that “the Party commands the gun,” calling their misconduct a “mutation” of corruption left behind by disgraced former generals Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both of whom were previously convicted or investigated for massive bribery.
“This is not just about graft, it's about loyalty,” Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute told news agency AP. “Xi’s purges are meant to project strength and ensure that only those absolutely loyal to him remain.”
The purge also reflects Xi’s anxiety over the PLA’s readiness and unity. The New York Times reported that at least three of the seven seats on the CMC are now vacant, creating instability within the highest military body. Analysts say the shake-up could affect coordination and weaken trust within the top command especially as Xi pushes to make the PLA “combat-ready” by 2027, the same year he is expected to seek a fourth term as Party leader.
A pattern of disappearances
The latest purge follows a series of disappearances and removals across China’s political and military elite. Former Defence Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were expelled last year on similar corruption charges. The head of the Rocket Force, which oversees China’s nuclear arsenal, was also removed amid reports of substandard missiles and failed procurement.
Civilian officials have not been spared either since former Foreign Minister Qin Gang vanished in 2023, and his apparent successor, Liu Jianchao, has not been seen in months.
A commentary in PLA Daily lauded the recent military parade in Beijing for showcasing the army’s “brand new face after political correction and anti-corruption,” but the tone suggested continuing unrest beneath the surface.
What it means for China and the world
Xi’s crackdown underscores both his dominance and his insecurities. The purge removes senior officers linked to corruption but also eliminates potential centres of power within the military. However, it risks paralysing the institution Xi depends on most from the PLA at a time when tensions are high over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
“Xi’s power comes with a price,” Thomas noted. “The system gets cleaner and more obedient, but also more cautious and at times, more brittle.”
As the Fourth Plenum convenes in Beijing, observers will watch closely to see who replaces the disgraced generals. For now, Xi has once again demonstrated that no rank, however high, shields anyone from his campaign or his control.
(With inputs from agencies)
The nine senior officials were accused of “seriously violating party discipline” and showing a “total collapse of beliefs,” according to a scathing editorial in the PLA Daily, the military’s official newspaper. The piece said their actions had “dealt a serious blow” to the army’s unity, the Communist Party’s authority over the armed forces, and “the image of senior military cadres.”
The announcement, made days before the Communist Party’s Fourth Plenum in Beijing, marks a dramatic escalation in Xi’s decade-long campaign to root out corruption and, critics say, disloyalty within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The timing is politically charged: Xi, who chairs the Central Military Commission (CMC), is reshuffling power within both the Party and the military ahead of key personnel changes.
Who has been purgedThe nine generals expelled from both the Party and the military are some of the most senior figures in China’s defence establishment:
- He Weidong – Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Politburo member
- Miao Hua – Former head of the CMC’s Political Work Department
- He Hongjun – Deputy head of the CMC’s Political Work Department
- Wang Xiubin – Executive Deputy Director, Joint Operations Command Centre
- Lin Xiangyang – Former Commander, Eastern Theatre Command
- Qin Shutong – Political Commissar of the PLA Army
- Yuan Huazhi – Political Commissar of the PLA Navy
- Wang Houbin – Former Commander, Rocket Force
- Wang Chunning – Former Commander, People’s Armed Police
According to Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, the nine were involved in “extremely serious crimes” and “exceptionally large sums of money.” Their cases have been referred to military prosecutors.
Why Xi is cleaning house again
While the Defence Ministry framed the expulsions as part of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign , analysts suggest deeper motives: a mix of political control, paranoia, and military insecurity.
The PLA Daily accused the generals of betraying the fundamental principle that “the Party commands the gun,” calling their misconduct a “mutation” of corruption left behind by disgraced former generals Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, both of whom were previously convicted or investigated for massive bribery.
“This is not just about graft, it's about loyalty,” Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute told news agency AP. “Xi’s purges are meant to project strength and ensure that only those absolutely loyal to him remain.”
The purge also reflects Xi’s anxiety over the PLA’s readiness and unity. The New York Times reported that at least three of the seven seats on the CMC are now vacant, creating instability within the highest military body. Analysts say the shake-up could affect coordination and weaken trust within the top command especially as Xi pushes to make the PLA “combat-ready” by 2027, the same year he is expected to seek a fourth term as Party leader.
A pattern of disappearances
The latest purge follows a series of disappearances and removals across China’s political and military elite. Former Defence Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were expelled last year on similar corruption charges. The head of the Rocket Force, which oversees China’s nuclear arsenal, was also removed amid reports of substandard missiles and failed procurement.
Civilian officials have not been spared either since former Foreign Minister Qin Gang vanished in 2023, and his apparent successor, Liu Jianchao, has not been seen in months.
A commentary in PLA Daily lauded the recent military parade in Beijing for showcasing the army’s “brand new face after political correction and anti-corruption,” but the tone suggested continuing unrest beneath the surface.
What it means for China and the world
Xi’s crackdown underscores both his dominance and his insecurities. The purge removes senior officers linked to corruption but also eliminates potential centres of power within the military. However, it risks paralysing the institution Xi depends on most from the PLA at a time when tensions are high over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
“Xi’s power comes with a price,” Thomas noted. “The system gets cleaner and more obedient, but also more cautious and at times, more brittle.”
As the Fourth Plenum convenes in Beijing, observers will watch closely to see who replaces the disgraced generals. For now, Xi has once again demonstrated that no rank, however high, shields anyone from his campaign or his control.
(With inputs from agencies)
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