Xi Purges 9 Military Officials Before China's Biggest Political Event

Just one week before China's most important political gathering, Xi Jinping has wielded his purge machine once again. This time, 19 officials—including 9 military leaders—have been stripped from the National People's Congress delegate list without explanation.

Even the Inner Circle Isn't Safe

The roster of the removed reads like a who's who of China's power structure. Li Qiaoming, commander of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, and Shen Jinlong, former Navy commander, headline the military casualties. Most striking is the recent removal of Zhang Youxia, Xi's highest-ranking general and a 40-year political ally, just weeks earlier for "serious violations of discipline and law."

The purge extends beyond the military. Sun Shaochong, former party chief of Inner Mongolia, joins several provincial officials on the chopping block. While Beijing offers no specific reasons, "discipline violations" typically serves as diplomatic code for corruption charges.

Anti-Corruption or Political Theater?

Since taking power in 2013, Xi has positioned himself as corruption's chief nemesis, launching his famous "tigers and flies" campaign targeting officials at every level. He's called corruption "the biggest threat" to Communist Party survival—a message that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of officials facing punishment over the past decade.

Yet critics see a different pattern. The anti-corruption drive, they argue, has become a convenient tool for eliminating political rivals and consolidating power. The military purges are particularly telling: 9 top generals were removed in October 2025 alone, suggesting systematic reorganization rather than isolated corruption cases.

Timing Is Everything

The announcement's timing amplifies its significance. Next week's Two Sessions—the annual meetings of China's legislature and top political advisory body—represent the country's most important political theater. From March 4-11, thousands of delegates will gather in Beijing to unveil the five-year plan and set economic targets that will shape China's trajectory.

Releasing a purge list just days before this gathering isn't coincidental. Xi is simultaneously demonstrating party discipline, reinforcing his authority, and clearing the deck for his policy agenda. It's political messaging at its most calculated.

The Loyalty Test

What makes this purge particularly noteworthy is its reach into Xi's inner circle. Zhang Youxia's removal sent shockwaves through Beijing's corridors of power—if a 40-year ally isn't safe, who is? This creates a climate where loyalty becomes paramount, but also where paranoia can flourish.

The pattern reveals Xi's governing philosophy: institutional power must bend to personal authority. Every major political event becomes an opportunity to reinforce this hierarchy, with the Two Sessions serving as the perfect backdrop for demonstrating who holds the reins.

The Two Sessions will showcase Xi's vision for China's future. But the shadow of this latest purge raises deeper questions about whether a system built on fear can achieve the stability it seeks.