News Desk
BEIJING — In a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has ensnared some of the highest-ranking officers in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), President Xi Jinping is demonstrating not a faltering hold over China’s military but an ironclad resolve to consolidate power, analysts say. Far from exposing vulnerabilities, the purge of top brass, including members of the elite Central Military Commission (CMC), underscores Xi’s ability to wield authority over an institution critical to China’s global ambitions, even as questions linger about the PLA’s readiness and the broader implications of his relentless crackdowns.
Over the past two years, Beijing’s anti-corruption drive has claimed two of the seven members of the CMC, the powerful body chaired by Xi that oversees the PLA’s sprawling operations. A third member, General Li Shangfu, the former defense minister, vanished from public view in August 2023, fueling speculation of his ouster. The purge has also swept up dozens of senior officers, including Admiral Miao Hua, a CMC member investigated for “serious violations of discipline,” a euphemism for corruption, and General Wei Fenghe, another former defense minister sidelined in 2024. These high-profile cases follow a pattern of Xi targeting perceived rivals or disloyal factions within the military, a move analysts argue is less about rooting out graft and more about ensuring absolute loyalty.
“Xi’s anti-corruption campaign is a tool for political control, not a sign of weakness,” said Minxin Pei, a professor at Claremont McKenna College who studies Chinese politics. “By targeting the CMC, he’s sending a message: no one is untouchable, not even those closest to the apex of power.”
Yet the campaign’s optics are troubling. The PLA, which China has poured billions into modernizing to project power in contested regions like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, risks appearing plagued by internal rot. The purge of top generals, coupled with investigations into defense contractors linked to faulty equipment, raises questions about the military’s war readiness. For instance, a 2024 probe revealed substandard fuel and defective missile components in the PLA’s Rocket Force, a critical unit overseeing China’s nuclear arsenal. Such scandals erode confidence in Beijing’s ability to execute its ambitious military goals, particularly as tensions with the United States and its allies intensify.
Critics argue that Xi’s purges, while consolidating his authority, have sown fear and paralysis within the PLA’s ranks. Officers, wary of being targeted, may prioritize political loyalty over operational competence, a dynamic that could undermine China’s strategic objectives. “The anti-corruption drive creates a climate of distrust,” said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the German Marshall Fund. “When generals are more focused on avoiding Xi’s crosshairs than on training for combat, it’s hard to see how the PLA can function at its peak.”
Moreover, the campaign may reflect internal power struggles among Xi’s loyalists, vying for influence in a system where proximity to the leader is paramount. Analysts suggest that factions within the CMC or the broader Communist Party could be using corruption allegations to sideline competitors, a tactic Xi has historically tolerated to keep elites in check. This infighting, while manageable for now, risks destabilizing the military’s cohesion at a time when China faces growing external pressures, from U.S. sanctions to regional disputes.
China’s state media, tightly controlled by the Communist Party, has framed the purges as proof of Xi’s commitment to a disciplined, modern military. Yet this narrative glosses over the campaign’s darker undercurrents. The lack of transparency surrounding the investigations—none of the accused have faced public trials—fuels speculation and distrust. Meanwhile, Xi’s refusal to delegate authority, exemplified by his personal oversight of the CMC, suggests a deep paranoia about potential threats from within.
The international community, particularly in Washington, is watching closely. The PLA’s vulnerabilities could embolden China’s adversaries, but a cornered Xi may also lash out to project strength, escalating tensions in flashpoints like Taiwan. For now, Xi’s grip on the military appears unshaken, but the cost of his purges—stifled initiative, eroded trust, and exposed weaknesses—may yet undermine China’s quest for global dominance.
As one Western diplomat, speaking anonymously, put it: “Xi is pruning the PLA to ensure it bends to his will. But in doing so, he’s risking a military that’s more loyal than lethal.”
