Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s decision to put two of the country’s most senior generals under investigation has sent shockwaves throughout Beijing’s political and military elite. This has left Xi Jinping alone at the top of the massive military structure of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and raises profound questions about the stability, effectiveness, and future direction of the PLA, especially as China continues to make its intentions clear to take control of the self-ruled island of Taiwan.
This, more than a corruption investigation, reveals a fundamental aspect of Xi Jinping’s leadership: no one is too powerful, too loyal, or too close to get away if they are deemed a threat to Xi Jinping’s rule.
A Sudden and Stark Announcement
The probes into Zhang Youxia, a battle-hardened commander and loyal Xi aide, and Liu Zhenli, head of the PLA’s joint operations command, were exposed in a short video clip, just 30 seconds long, released by China’s defense ministry on Saturday. The suddenness of the announcement itself was a function of the foggy politics of the Chinese military.
Soon after, an editorial in the People’s Liberation Army Daily accused the two generals of
“seriously trampling on and undermining the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the Central Military Commission chairman.”
In the parlance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), this is a far more serious charge than corruption: an attack on Xi Jinping’s personal power as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
A Purge Years in the Making
The charges against Zhang and Liu represent what seems to be the culmination of a ruthless, more than decade-long effort by Xi to shake up the leadership of China’s military. Since 2012, Xi has been engaged in an aggressive anti-corruption campaign in an effort to eradicate competing sources of power, eradicate corruption, and establish unconditional political loyalty.
The scale of the campaign is impressive. In excess of 20 high-ranking military leaders have been investigated or ousted since 2023 alone, decimating the upper ranks of the PLA. The investigation into Zhang, who has long been considered impervious to political fallout, has now made it clear just how far-reaching Xi’s campaign has been.
The Fall of a Trusted Ally
Zhang Youxia’s downfall is particularly dramatic. A fellow “princeling”—the son of a revolutionary leader—Zhang’s ties to Xi stretch back decades, rooted in the shared history of their fathers who fought together during China’s Civil War.
“This is potentially a seismic shift in Chinese politics under Xi,”
said Jonathan Czin, a fellow at the Brookings Institution’s China Center and former CIA analyst.
“It really demonstrates that nobody in that system is safe.”
As Czin writes,
“The purge has now reached a crescendo, and it’s at the very top of the party and military leadership.”
Xi has clearly come to believe that the PLA is so riddled with mismanagement and corruption that an entire generation of leaders needs to be swept away.
“For Xi to get rid of a guy like this is really remarkable,”
Czin continued, referring to the “almost Shakespearean” nature of Zhang’s ouster. It’s a sign that Xi’s reign has moved from purging enemies to purging those he himself brought down, and now even those tied to him through a lifetime of politics and personal relationships.
What Is Zhang Accused Of?
The precise details of the investigation remain unclear, not only to outsiders but also within China’s tightly sealed military system. However, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with a high-level briefing, reported that Zhang was accused of leaking core technical data on China’s nuclear weapons to the United States and accepting bribes in exchange for official acts,
including the promotion of an officer to defense minister.
Some experts caution that allegations of espionage may be designed to justify the purge internally, rather than reflect the full truth.
Power Struggles or Loyalty Test?
In the absence of official transparency, speculation has flourished. Some rumors suggest Xi may be losing control of the system, though experts largely dismiss this theory. Others argue that Xi is crushing rival factions within the PLA—either to stop infighting or because Zhang had become too powerful.
The PLA Daily’s language
“could suggest that Zhang was becoming too powerful for Xi’s liking,”
said Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute. Alternatively, Thomas added, it could mean Zhang “betrayed Xi’s trust” by enabling corruption within military procurement or failing to fully implement Xi’s vision of a disciplined fighting force.
Xi’s Long-Term Strategy: Control Above All
Since assuming power, Xi has pursued a sweeping transformation of the PLA, aimed not only at modernizing it to compete with the United States but also at ensuring the military’s absolute loyalty to the Communist Party—and to Xi personally.
This approach reflects Xi’s reading of history, particularly the collapse of autocratic regimes that lost control of their armed forces. In China, the PLA is controlled by the party, not the state, making political reliability as important as combat readiness.
A massive structural reorganization and technological modernization have gone hand in hand with Xi’s anti-corruption drive. Dozens of senior officers and defense industry executives have fallen in the latest wave since 2023. Far from signaling weakness, many analysts argue that purging even his closest allies is evidence of Xi’s strength.
“The fact that Xi Jinping has been able to cashier so many PLA elites since he assumed power is a clear sign his position in the regime is unassailable,”
said James Char of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
A Military Leadership in Disarray
The immediate result of the latest probes is a hollowed-out leadership structure. Following a routine reshuffle in 2022, the Central Military Commission had six uniformed members. Now, pending formal expulsions, only one remains: Zhang Shengmin, the PLA’s anti-corruption chief.
According to Thomas, the PLA leadership is currently “in a state of disarray,” with very few generals left at the highest levels. While capable officers may be waiting in the wings, many lack experience in top command roles.
Xi may use the more than 18 months before the next leadership reshuffle to vet new candidates and dismantle entrenched patronage networks.
Short-Term Stability, Long-Term Questions
Despite the upheaval, the PLA’s day-to-day operations continue. Xi has tapped second-line officers to fill key roles on an informal basis, ensuring continuity across the military and the CMC’s departments.
According to Char, a younger and potentially more professional officer corps has stepped in, allowing routine military functions to proceed without disruption.
What remains uncertain is how the purge will affect morale, combat readiness, and long-term planning—especially regarding Taiwan. The investigation into Liu Zhenli, who oversaw the PLA’s joint combat command, has raised particular concerns given his central role in operational coordination.
Taiwan Calculations and Strategic Timing
For now, analysts suggest Xi may view the timing as advantageous. With a US administration perceived as less focused on Taiwan and potential political change in Taiwan’s 2028 elections, Xi may see this as a safe window to clean house without jeopardizing immediate strategic objectives.
As Czin put it, Xi is likely calculating that internal consolidation now will leave the PLA more loyal—and more controllable—when it matters most.
