During China's annual legislative meetings, known as the "two sessions," in Beijing this month, at least a dozen active and retired military officers were notably absent from the proceedings. Among the missing was General Zhang Youxia, who has been under investigation since late January for "suspected serious violations of discipline and law," according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. Zhang is one of the highest-ranking officials ensnared in a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has become a hallmark of Chinese Communist Party Chairman and President Xi Jinping's long tenure.
Xi launched the initiative shortly after rising to power in 2012, triggering what state media has called an "unprecedented anti-corruption storm" targeting both senior "tigers" and lower-level "flies" across the state, military, and party apparatus. Recent analyses suggest Xi has embarked on a renewed purge within the leadership of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Chieh Chung, an adjunct associate research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, noted that this time, the net appears even wider, encompassing operational commanders in addition to members of China's Central Military Commission, military functional institutions, political commissars, and commanders across the PLA's five military theatres and various branches.
China's official military newspaper last month emphasized that corruption remains a top priority for President Xi, stating, "Corruption is the biggest cancer eroding combat effectiveness. The more thoroughly we eliminate hidden dangers, the more promising the century-long battle against corruption will be." The PLA's latest work report, released during the two sessions, placed the fight against corruption on par with other goals like "political rectification" and ensuring loyalty. This drive coincides with the PLA's preparations to mark its 100th anniversary in August 2027, a milestone for assessing its decades-long modernization campaign.
Tristan Tang, a non-resident Vasey Fellow at the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum research institute, told Al Jazeera that Zhang and other military targets reflect Xi's long-running dissatisfaction with the management of the armed forces. Tang explained that Xi renewed his focus on the military between 2016 and 2017, and the recent removals should be seen as an extension of that campaign. He interpreted the situation as indicating that "the leadership has discovered longstanding problems in the PLA's personnel system," which may explain why numerous generals and admirals have been removed or investigated while many positions remain unfilled, as officers across the system undergo re-evaluation.
According to an estimate from the US-based CSIS China Power Project, about 100 senior PLA officers have been "purged or potentially purged" since 2022, including 36 generals and lieutenant generals, and 65 officers deemed "missing or potentially purged" based on their absence from key meetings. While corruption is cited as the official reason in many cases, security experts across East Asia are assessing the implications for one of the world's most powerful militaries. Kunihiko Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat and research director at the Canon Institute of Global Studies in Tokyo, described the situation as "extraordinary," noting that of the seven members of China's Central Military Commission, only two remain, including Xi, after a year of house-cleaning.
The shake-up raises questions about the PLA's internal health and operational stability. Retired South Korean Lieutenant General In-Bum Chun told Al Jazeera that if the dismissals are primarily anti-corruption measures, they may indicate deeper institutional problems; if political, they may reflect Beijing's concerns about loyalty at senior levels. In either case, frequent leadership disruptions can create uncertainty, affecting morale and internal trust, even as they may strengthen central political control.
The purge is closely watched in the context of rising tensions over Taiwan. China has vowed to annex the self-ruled island of 23 million people, by peace or force, while the United States has pledged to help Taiwan defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, though without committing troops. By one often-repeated estimate from retired US Admiral Philip Davidson, the PLA will be capable of launching a military campaign against Taiwan by 2027. William Yang, senior analyst for Northeast Asia at the International Crisis Group, said China's latest Government Work Report indicates that annexing Taiwan remains a top priority, reflecting "Beijing's growing confidence in the overall trend of cross-strait dynamics" and its determination to accelerate unification preparations, including through more coercive means.
Security experts caution that the leadership changes do not appear to have disrupted China's military operations around Taiwan, such as the "Justice Mission 2025" exercises in late December 2025 and ongoing "grey zone activities" intended to intimidate Taiwan. However, they are still assessing the long-term fallout, as the PLA's modernization and anti-corruption efforts intersect with geopolitical ambitions in the region.
Source: www.aljazeera.com