Shockwaves in China's PLA: Xi Jinping moves against trusted general to cement absolute control

Over the past three years, five of the six generals who once sat on China's top military decision-making body, the Central Military Commission, have been removed or sidelined, leaving only Xi and one vice chair who has overseen the disciplinary drive, The New York Times reports

• Xi sidelines top general Zhang in a major military purge
• Xi's campaign targets disloyalty, echoing Mao-era tactics
• Almost 1 million officials penalized for party discipline violations

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When Xi Jinping marked the New Year in Beijing, he invoked the legacy of Yan'an - the revolutionary base where Mao Zedong consolidated control over the Communist Party through ideological "rectification" and purges. The symbolism was striking. Within weeks, China's top military commander, Gen. Zhang Youxia - long viewed as close to Xi - was effectively sidelined in what amounts to a purge, The New York Times reports.

Yan'an was not only the cradle of the Communist victory; it was also the site of Mao's first sweeping internal purge, which crushed rivals and cemented his dominance. The New York Times notes that Xi's renewed emphasis on the Yan'an legacy may signal a similar drive to tighten ideological discipline and personal loyalty within both the party and the armed forces.

Xi has described his governance approach as one of continuous "self-revolution." In practice, that has translated into an expansive anti-corruption and loyalty campaign that has increasingly reached into his own inner circle. Over the past three years, five of the six generals who once sat on China's top military decision-making body, the Central Military Commission, have been removed or sidelined, leaving only Xi and one vice chair who has overseen the disciplinary drive, The New York Times reports.

Despite the dramatic reshuffle, Chinese authorities have offered little public explanation. Xi has continued routine state engagements - hosting foreign dignitaries, convening policy meetings and addressing military units via video link ahead of the Lunar New Year. In remarks cited by The New York Times, he described the past year as "very unusual and very extraordinary" while asserting that China's armed forces remain "completely reliable and trustworthy."

Online discussion of Zhang's removal has been tightly managed, with social media searches and commentary restricted. Official military editorials have framed the investigation in stark ideological language. One front-page commentary in the People's Liberation Army Daily likened the probe to "uprooting sick trees" and eliminating "hidden cancer" to ensure the force is "reforged and reformed." Another praised Xi as the military's "source of strength, direction and future," The New York Times reports.

Analysts quoted by The New York Times suggest Xi is drawing consciously from Mao-era tactics. John Garnaut, a geopolitical risk adviser, said the language used by the party reflects Maoist and Stalinist influences familiar to Xi from his upbringing as the son of a revolutionary veteran. Joseph Torigian, a historian of the Chinese Communist Party, said Xi views the rectification campaigns of the past as a powerful political tool and believes he can deploy them effectively to secure ideological unity and personal allegiance.

Since taking power in 2012, Xi has repeatedly referenced Yan'an as both inspiration and political signal. After securing an unprecedented third term as party chief, he led senior officials on a visit to the Shaanxi city. In 2024, he and Zhang also traveled there for a meeting focused on political work within the military, underscoring the principle of the party's "absolute leadership" over the armed forces.

Control of the military has been a defining challenge for every Chinese leader since Mao famously declared that political authority flows from "the barrel of a gun." The New York Times notes that Xi's predecessor, Hu Jintao, struggled to assert similar command over the armed forces. Retired PLA colonel Yue Gang told the newspaper that the smooth removal of Zhang underscores how firmly Xi now holds that power.

Xi's sweeping anti-corruption campaign has targeted both graft and perceived disloyalty. Official data show that nearly one million officials were punished last year for violating party discipline - the highest figure on record. The New York Times reports that while Xi's campaign has not matched the bloodshed of Mao's era, it has fostered an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty within the party apparatus.

Scholars cited by the newspaper argue that Xi has revived elements of ideological indoctrination, including mandatory study of "Xi Jinping Thought" and internal reporting mechanisms that encourage officials to inform on colleagues. Such practices, they say, reinforce loyalty while eroding trust within the ranks.

The abrupt and unexplained removal of senior officials has become a hallmark of Xi's leadership style. Rather than quietly easing Zhang into retirement ahead of the next party transition in 2027, Xi opted for a public and decisive break. As Yun Sun of the Stimson Center told The New York Times, the episode reflects a position of strength: Xi can, with a single decision, remove even the most senior figures in China's military establishment.