BEIJING – Fresh personnel shake-ups within China’s top military echelon are once again underscoring the persistent and deeply entrenched challenges of corruption and factionalism plaguing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), prompting President Xi Jinping to accelerate efforts to consolidate disciplinary authority over the armed forces. The latest maneuvers, which include the expulsion of several active-duty generals from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the military, signal that despite years of intense anti-graft campaigns, systemic rot remains a significant threat to the PLA’s integrity and combat readiness.
Top Brass Expelled Amid Intensified Scrutiny
Reports indicate that a wave of disciplinary actions has targeted senior military figures, including high-ranking officials such as a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the director of the Political Work Department, and the commander of the paramilitary People’s Armed Police. These individuals were reportedly accused of “serious violations,” leading to their immediate expulsion from both the party and the military structure.
This dramatic move is widely interpreted by international observers as a direct effort by Xi Jinping to enforce tighter personal control over the PLA’s political apparatus. For years, the Political Work Department, which traditionally oversees personnel and political loyalty within the ranks, has been seen as an area where factional influence could flourish, potentially rivaling the authority of the top leadership.
Restructuring Discipline for Control
The strategic response to this perceived instability has been a significant elevation of the role of the military’s internal disciplinary body. The CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, the organization tasked with enforcing party rules and rooting out corruption internally, has seen its standing significantly enhanced.
In a key appointment reflecting this shift, Zhang Shengmin, the secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, was promoted to the position of CMC Vice Chairman during a recent high-level political session. This move restores a dual vice-chairman structure, pairing a political cadre with a military officer, but crucially places an official with a background in discipline inspection in a position of high authority. This appointment is seen as an intentional mechanism to prevent any single faction, particularly within the political oversight wing of the military, from gaining unchecked influence over promotions and internal governance.
Corruption: A Hindrance to Modernization
The continuation of these high-profile purges suggests that the issue is not merely isolated incidents of bribery or embezzlement, but a deeper, systemic problem that Beijing fears could compromise national security. Analysts suggest that the sweeping changes indicate that the Chinese military continues to grapple with both corruption and internal instability, which inherently detracts from its overall combat effectiveness.
Xi Jinping’s sustained focus on military discipline, often framed publicly as a necessary measure against graft, is simultaneously serving the political purpose of purging potential rivals or elements loyal to previous power structures. The goal appears to be a PLA that is not only more ethically sound but also unequivocally loyal to the current paramount leader, a critical component of his vision for a modernized and powerful Chinese state.
International Implications
From a global perspective, the internal turmoil within the PLA raises questions about the reliability and predictability of China’s military posture. While the immediate focus remains on internal compliance and loyalty, prolonged instability at the top levels of command can affect strategic decision-making and operational coherence. The ongoing anti-corruption drive within the military is therefore a central element of contemporary Chinese politics and a key indicator of the CCP’s ability to maintain absolute authority over its most vital instrument of power.
This latest round of high-level military purges confirms that the war on corruption in China remains an active, high-stakes political battle, with the nation’s defense apparatus firmly in the crosshairs of the CCP’s disciplinary machine.