China purges top military leaders to ensure political loyalty

China has conducted a major wave of purges within its military and defense sectors, targeting high-ranking officials to ensure political loyalty to Xi Jinping. The Politburo has officially expelled former Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice President Zhang Youxia and former Joint Chief of Staff Liu Zhenli from the Communist Party and the armed forces.

Following investigations launched in January, the officials face accusations including the formation of ‘cliques’, disloyalty to the Party, and using their positions to facilitate promotions in exchange for large sums of money. They have been referred to military prosecutors.

The purges have significantly hollowed out the CMC leadership. While the body elected at the 20th Party Congress in 2022 consisted of seven members, official records now list only President Xi Jinping and Vice President Zhang Shengmin. This crackdown extends beyond the barracks to include agencies responsible for the procurement, design, and production of weaponry, signaling a shift toward permanent ‘political rectification’ to ensure the military remains under strict Party control.