China’s military top brass is in chaos. Seriously.
When the country’s most senior general and another high-ranking officer are suddenly purged, you can’t help but ask: what’s really going on?
Over the weekend, General Zhang Youxia, 75, and General Liu Zhenli were placed under investigation, accused of “serious violations of discipline and law”.
A phrase that usually means corruption.
But the fallout has been far bigger than a typical graft scandal.
Zhang was vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the body that controls China’s armed forces.
And now, the CMC has been reduced from around seven members to just two: President Xi Jinping and General Zhang Shengmin. That’s unprecedented.
PLA Leadership Crisis
So what does this mean for China’s military strength? Experts warn it’s not just about corruption.
“The PLA is in disarray,” says Lyle Morris from the Asia Society Policy Institute.
He adds that China now has “a major leadership void.”
And with so many top officers removed, the next layer of commanders may be too scared to step up.
Because who wants a promotion that comes with a target on your back?
There’s also a swirl of rumours — from leaked nuclear secrets to coup plots.
“We don’t know what is true and what is false,” Morris says. But one thing seems clear: Xi’s grip on the military is tighter than ever.
And with Beijing ramping up pressure on Taiwan, the timing couldn’t be worse.
If the PLA’s leadership is shaky, will China still be able to act decisively?
Or will fear and suspicion make its next move more dangerous — and more unpredictable?
