In March 2023, China’s military leadership stood before the nation with an image of unity behind Xi Jinping. After nearly a decade in power, Xi has appointed the high command he wanted. That is, hand-picked loyalists to turn the People’s Liberation Army into a world-class military.
But even Xi’s loyalists are not exempt from his massive campaign to liquidate the military. The purges were ostensibly focused on corruption but also linked to loyalty. One by one, members of the Central Military Commission were dismissed and investigated. The most recent was General Zhang Yuxia, Xi’s top general.
Xi has also dismissed dozens of other senior military officials in just three years, a level of upheaval unprecedented in modern Chinese history. Below is a picture of the likely extent of the military-wide purge, based on a New York Times analysis of Chinese state media reports and official statements.
This purge demonstrates President Xi’s enormous power, but it also creates a leadership vacuum throughout the military.
The fall of General Zhang and another ousted commander with him, General Liu Zhenli, deprived the Central Military Commission of leaders preparing for battle. A number of junior officers are also involved in the actual planning for major military actions, but the sudden death of the top two “operations” commanders could undermine Xi’s confidence in the People’s Liberation Army’s readiness for some time.
The only general remaining on the committee is Zhang Shengmin, who oversaw Xi’s military purges and is now responsible for maintaining political discipline and loyalty. General Zhang spent most of his career as an anti-corruption and political discipline inspector in the Rocket Force, which controls China’s nuclear and conventional missile programs. President Xi promoted him to vice chairman of the Central Military Commission last year.
Layoffs also affected nearly every other branch of the military. This includes the Rocket Force and the Navy.
Five theater commands, regions created by Xi in 2016 to manage the military, were also eliminated. This includes the Eastern Theater Command, which is responsible for operations around Taiwan. Late last year, President Xi appointed a new commander for the Eastern Theater.
Most military command posts are either vacant or newly appointed.
After General Jiang’s fall, the Chinese military’s official newspaper urged officers and soldiers to support the decision and rally around President Xi. It also acknowledged that layoffs and disruptions were causing “short-term hardship and suffering.”
Ultimately, a more powerful Chinese military will emerge, the newspaper reported.
But with the 72-year-old leader targeting a fourth term as Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party starting in 2027, Xi will first have to find another group of trustworthy generals, which he will almost certainly achieve.
