Interesting in depth article on the purging of top military people in the Chinese military.
https://chinapower.csis.org/china-pla-military-purges/
The article examines the unprecedented scale of purges within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under Chinese leader Xi Jinping, showing that these go far deeper than previously publicized. Using a newly constructed CSIS Database of Chinese Military Purges, the analysis finds that over 100 senior PLA officers — including generals and lieutenant generals — have been purged or are potentially under investigation since 2022. This includes the removal of multiple key leaders from the Central Military Commission (CMC), such as defence ministers, vice chairmen, and top operational commanders, leaving the CMC’s high command dramatically thinned. While corruption is often cited as the official reason for these actions, political loyalty and internal factional dynamics also appear to play a major role.
The purges have affected virtually all major branches and leadership structures of the PLA — including services like the Army, Navy, Rocket Force, theater commands, and CMC departments — and have left many key positions vacant or filled by temporary appointees. Despite this upheaval, the PLA has largely maintained routine operations, and China’s military activities have continued in areas like the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Yet the removal of so many experienced leaders raises questions about long-term readiness and the future shape of China’s military leadership. The article concludes that Xi faces a prolonged process of reorganizing the PLA and filling leadership gaps, with political loyalty likely to remain a central criterion for promotions.
