US EditionWhy the purge? China's Xi sidelines top military brass
Xi Jinping investigates top generals for corruption and leaking nuclear secrets, amid concerns PLA readiness for Taiwan invasion by 2027, with most 2022 appointees dismissed.
- On January 23, Xi Jinping removed Zhang Youxia, first vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli was also placed under investigation, official reports say.
- The official notice said Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline and the law,' with Chinese state-controlled media and social media remaining silent.
- The purge has hollowed out the Central Military Commission, leaving only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin; all but one of the seven members lost positions in recent months and most 2022 appointees face investigation.
- Analysts argue the removals stem from force-building failures that missed Xi Jinping’s readiness timetable cited by U.S. intelligence, suggesting the PLA is not yet ready for major Taiwan operations.
- The move is part of a broader cascade that has intensified since 2023, including two defense ministers, with observers expecting new core military leaders in the coming year.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Like Germany, Japan has put too much emphasis on US aid, says former lieutenant general Hirotaka Yamashita. Now the country has to make sure that it is able to defend itself. Quickly, the military expert anticipates China's attack on Taiwan from 2027.
It could become weaker in the short term, but also much more centralized and dangerous in the coming years: Taiwan is also involved
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