Xi's Military Purge Signals Power Consolidation Before Key 2025 Events

In a move that sent ripples through China's political establishment, Beijing announced Saturday that its two most senior military officers are under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations" — a euphemism that typically signals corruption or political disloyalty in the Communist Party's lexicon.

Zhang Youxia, the first-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and China's highest-ranking uniformed officer, alongside Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC's Joint Staff, now face the party's disciplinary machinery. Their sudden removal from positions of immense strategic importance comes at a particularly sensitive time for President Xi Jinping, who faces two critical political milestones in 2025.

The Timing Tells a Story

The announcement's timing is hardly coincidental. Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the People's Republic of China — events that will demand flawless military pageantry and absolute loyalty. More crucially, 2025 also represents the halfway point of Xi's third presidential term, a period when consolidating power becomes essential for any leader seeking to cement their legacy.

Zhang Youxia, 72, was considered one of Xi's most trusted military allies, having served alongside the president's father during China's revolutionary period. His fall from grace suggests that even personal connections and revolutionary credentials cannot shield officials from Xi's increasingly stringent demands for absolute loyalty.

The investigation extends beyond these two figures. The CMC's disciplinary apparatus has been systematically reviewing military leadership, with several other high-ranking officers reportedly under scrutiny. This pattern reflects what analysts describe as Xi's "zero-tolerance" approach to maintaining party discipline within the 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army.

A Familiar Playbook

This isn't Xi's first military purge. Since taking power in 2012, he has removed dozens of senior military officials, including former CMC vice-chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, both sentenced for corruption. The current removals follow a similar script: sudden announcements, vague accusations of "disciplinary violations," and swift replacement with more reliable loyalists.

The pattern reveals Xi's understanding of a fundamental truth about authoritarian governance: control of the military is control of the state. Unlike his predecessors who often had to negotiate with various party factions, Xi has methodically eliminated potential centers of resistance within the PLA's command structure.

Global Implications

For international observers, these purges raise uncomfortable questions about China's military readiness and decision-making processes. When senior generals can be removed overnight for undisclosed reasons, it creates uncertainty about the PLA's operational effectiveness and strategic planning continuity.

Taiwan's defense ministry has been closely monitoring these developments, as any instability in China's military leadership could affect cross-strait dynamics. Similarly, Pentagon analysts are reassessing their understanding of Chinese military capabilities and command structures in light of these leadership changes.

The removals also complicate diplomatic relations at a time when military-to-military communication channels between China and other nations are already strained. Defense partnerships and arms control discussions become more difficult when counterparts keep disappearing from their positions.

The Price of Absolute Control

Xi's approach to military leadership reflects a broader trend in Chinese governance: the prioritization of political loyalty over professional competence. While this strategy may eliminate potential threats to his rule, it also risks creating a military leadership more focused on political survival than strategic excellence.

The investigation process itself remains opaque, with no clear timeline or specific charges announced. This ambiguity serves Xi's purposes by keeping other military leaders uncertain about what might trigger similar treatment, thereby encouraging absolute compliance with party directives.