Xi’s 14‑Year Military Purge Leaves PLA Leadership Shaken

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tenure has been marked by a sweeping purge of senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officials. Over the past year, dozens of top generals, including former defense ministers and CMC members, have been investigated, dismissed or prosecuted on anti‑corruption grounds. The latest sign of the purge was the August 1 (八一) military reception, where only Defense Minister Dong Jun delivered a speech and no members of the Central Military Commission were present, a departure from previous years when multiple CMC members attended.

Analysts say the reduced attendance reflects the erosion of the traditional command structure after the removal of figures such as former defense ministers Zhang Youxia and Zhang Youxia’s successor, and the sidelining of deputy CMC chairman Zhang Shengmin. Xi continues to stress “political building of the army,” demanding that troops “listen to the Party and follow the Party’s commands,” underscoring the political nature of the ongoing reshuffle and its impact on military cohesion.