The Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China originally consisted of 7 members, but now only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin remain. (Video screenshot)
[People News] Despite the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) military purges in recent years that have already led to the arrest of numerous senior generals, Xi Jinping's campaign against the military continues unabated. Experts suggest that this extensive rectification will disrupt the expansion of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the short term, and Xi will ultimately bear a high cost for his actions.
All of this is aimed at consolidating greater power.
Statistics from The Dajiyun indicate that nearly 70 generals have been purged, an unprecedented number to be eliminated in such a short time during peacetime. Of the 81 generals personally promoted by Xi, nearly 60 have already been removed. Throughout this process, Xi Jinping has acted with determination, seemingly unconcerned about being criticised for 'failing to recognise talent.' Notably, in his dealings with Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, he showed no hesitation in disregarding decades of personal relationships and was quite resolute.
According to a report by DW, the Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung published an analysis titled 'Xi Jinping's Purge Actions Allow Taiwan to Breathe Temporarily,' which indicates that U.S. intelligence agencies believe the ongoing turmoil within the Chinese military has significantly decreased the likelihood of Beijing launching military action against Taiwan before 2027. Experts suggest that the purges targeting the military will disrupt the expansion of the People's Liberation Army in the short term. This assessment is consistent with the threat report released by U.S. intelligence agencies on Thursday, which states that 'the Chinese leadership currently has no plans to invade Taiwan in 2027, nor has it established a specific timetable for achieving national rejuvenation.' While the power struggles among the upper ranks of the Chinese military may reduce the chances of Beijing acting against Taiwan before 2027, in the long term, Xi Jinping could use these purges to consolidate greater decision-making authority for himself.
"Political loyalty" holds greater significance than a "strong military".
The Liberty Times also noted that, according to intelligence from Taiwan's national security agencies, the large-scale purge within the Chinese Communist Party's military is ongoing, extending from the original 'general level' down to the 'colonel level.' Key areas for purging include procurement and the air force system, with assessments suggesting that Xi Jinping aims to create a military structure that presents 'no challenge' to his authority.
However, despite the extensive purge, Xi Jinping remains uneasy about the military. Recently, while addressing a delegation from the People's Liberation Army (PLA), he specifically stressed that "there must be no individuals with divided loyalties to the Party" and frequently highlighted the need for "supervision." Taiwanese national security officials interpret this as an indication that Xi's current priority for the PLA has shifted from "building a strong military" to ensuring internal stability and eliminating any "dissenting opinions" within the ranks. Furthermore, the large-scale military purge initiated by Xi is still in progress and has begun to penetrate deeper, moving from a focus on the "general level" to a new wave of oversight targeting the "colonel level," concentrating on equipment, procurement, and air force systems. This has significantly affected the command and operational capabilities of the troops. With China's economy continuing to struggle, the depletion of defense resources and military operations has led to a noticeable decline in both the scale and quality of recent military training exercises. Evidence of this can be seen in some joint naval and air force operations; for instance, in fleet coordination during maneuvers, basic actions such as timing for positioning, providing cover, and force coordination, which would typically involve more complex and comprehensive subject designs in large-scale exercises, have recently shown a marked decrease in complexity, with even some fundamental actions not being fully executed. Given the tightly integrated and rigorous command structure in joint operations, the internal purges within the military are likely to disrupt its stable functioning.
Taiwan's national security officials have stated that the current wave of purges is primarily aimed at Xi Jinping's ambition to gain complete control over military power and to reshape a military structure that does not challenge his authority. Given that 'indefinite tenure' is practically unfeasible, Xi is worried about being constrained by the existing power structure in the future, a situation that has historically plagued China's governance system.
The scale of these purges is unprecedented, and it is believed that Xi will pay a heavy price for them.
As reported by the Dajiyuan, independent commentator Cai Shenkun remarked on X that such extensive purges are unique in the history of the Chinese Communist Party's military. This method of promoting and simultaneously removing individuals effectively constitutes a violent dismantling of the military's original power structure. The role of a general has become increasingly perilous, and the professional dignity of military leaders, along with their trust in the system, has been severely undermined, with potential costs in future conflicts being incalculable.
Shen Mingshi, a researcher at Taiwan's National Defence Security Research Institute, told the Dajiyuan that Xi Jinping's relentless purging of generals, including He Weidong, Miao Hua, and Zhang Youxia, is aimed at ensuring the military's complete obedience to him. This ongoing purging process is likely to create a power vacuum, resulting in a lack of succession among senior generals and leading to various issues in combat readiness training. This presents a significant dilemma for him. Furthermore, even retired generals are finding it difficult to achieve peace due to the expanded purges, which are fostering a mindset of complacency within the military.
Shen Mingshi remarked that within the culture of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), historically, generals had opportunities for corruption through military equipment development, which in turn was fueled by corruption, particularly in the continuous advancements of stealth fighters and aircraft carriers. However, with Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, it appears he is discarding the bathwater while inadvertently throwing out the child as well; as a result, no one will be willing to engage in military research and development due to the high risks of corruption. Without financial incentives and amid a constant state of anxiety, the CCP's military development is likely to stagnate.
Australian scholar Yuan Hongbing has previously disclosed that Xi is currently referred to as 'General Slayer' within the CCP, signifying the destroyer of generals.
On March 20, Yuan Hongbing informed The Dajiyuan that one of Xi Jinping's key objectives in implementing military reforms is to fulfil his personal ambition for power. He insists on establishing a system where the chairman of the military commission has the final authority. Xi has carried out successive purges within the military; to date, not only have generals been largely eliminated, but the number of lieutenant generals being targeted is even higher. This reflects that Xi's aspirations for absolute personal dictatorship and his political strategy have devolved into a political project that remains unfinished. △
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