In Chinese President Xi Jinping’s purging drive, even the closest and highly-ranked military allies are not safe. The removal of senior PLA commanders has hollowed out China’s military leadership, raising questions about internal cohesion, loyalty, and how far Xi is willing to go to secure control over the armed forces.
1 / 6China has recently investigated and dismissed General Zhang Youxia, long regarded as Xi Jinping’s closest military ally and one of the People’s Liberation Army’s most senior commanders, over “serious violations of discipline and law” in a continuing purge of top military officials. Zhang’s removal follows a broader wave of dismissals and investigations at the highest levels of the PLA over the past two years, including officers responsible for key strategic commands such as nuclear forces and Taiwan-related operations. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 6General Zhang is one of the few remaining senior officers with combat experience, dating back to the 1979 China–Vietnam border conflict. He eventually rose to become vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 6The shake-up has hollowed out the CMC, the PLA’s top decision-making body, leaving Xi almost alone at the summit alongside only a handful of loyalists — a sign of both his consolidation of power and the scale of the upheaval. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 6Chinese state media and official statements have framed these moves as part of an anti-corruption crackdown, often using language about “serious discipline violations”. However, analysts and media reporting outside China note that political loyalty and tighter central control are usually key motives behind such actions. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 6China observers say the purge casts doubt on internal military cohesion and could weaken the institutional expertise available for strategic advice, while reinforcing the message that no one — not even close allies — is immune to Xi’s authority. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 6This military purge is an extension of Xi’s years-long anti-corruption campaign targeting party and state officials, with the armed forces increasingly becoming a focal point after earlier removals of defence ministers and senior commanders. (Image: Reuters)
