Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Photo courtesy of Xinhua/Li Gang.
| Published July 22, 2025
Purges have cut the CMC nearly in half, with profound consequences for the PLA’s ability to function as a modern warfighting organization.
In recent months, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s sweeping purges of military leadership—particularly within the Central Military Commission (CMC)—have raised eyebrows across the globe. These high-level removals, aimed at consolidating power and tackling corruption, may instead be signaling deeper vulnerabilities within Xi’s once seemingly unshakable rule.
The Purge That Shook the PLA
Xi Jinping has long presented himself as a crusader against corruption, but his latest moves suggest something more profound than routine housecleaning. Since late 2022, over a dozen senior officers from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and its Rocket Force—responsible for the country’s nuclear arsenal—have been abruptly removed, detained, or disappeared. These include top brass like former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and General Li Yuchao, Rocket Force commander until 2023.
According to The Diplomat, these moves have dramatically shrunk the size of the CMC, China’s top military decision-making body. Once a robust 11-member leadership, the commission now has just six members—a drastic cut that experts say reflects an atmosphere of distrust, fear, and uncertainty.
Rocket Force Fallout: A Red Flag
The purge of the Rocket Force is especially alarming. This elite arm of the military controls China’s most advanced missile systems and plays a crucial role in nuclear deterrence. Analysts suggest that the abrupt removals were prompted by corruption, intelligence leaks, or both. The targeting of such a strategic force raises serious concerns not only about internal discipline but also about China’s readiness in the face of rising geopolitical tensions.
Moreover, The Gateway Pundit highlights suspicions that these shake-ups may have been triggered by external leaks, possibly involving U.S. intelligence. If accurate, this would mark a humiliating breach for Xi’s military, undermining confidence in the PLA’s loyalty and competence.
Xi’s Gamble: Loyalty Over Competence?
What’s most striking is Xi’s apparent prioritization of loyalty over expertise. Many of those elevated to replace ousted generals are political loyalists with less experience in military strategy. Critics argue this could compromise China’s long-term military effectiveness, especially as tensions rise in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
Despite Xi’s projection of total control, these internal crackdowns suggest a leader grappling with insecurity. Purging top generals—many of whom were handpicked by Xi himself—could be interpreted as a sign that his centralization of power is breeding internal instability rather than suppressing it.
A Diminished Power Structure
The shrinking of the CMC is not just symbolic. It represents a bottleneck in decision-making at a time when China’s military faces increasing pressure to modernize and project strength. Reduced diversity of thought, increased fear of reprisal, and paranoia among remaining officials could slow strategic planning and lead to costly miscalculations.
Implications of Xi Jinping’s Military Purges and Shrinking CMC
1. Erosion of Military Readiness and Morale
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The removal of top PLA and Rocket Force officials, especially those with deep operational experience, risks damaging the morale of mid- and lower-tier officers.
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Fear of being next in line for purging can suppress initiative, delay decision-making, and foster a culture of political paranoia within the ranks.
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China’s combat readiness and ability to respond swiftly in crises—particularly in Taiwan, the South China Sea, or near U.S. military operations—could be compromised.
2. Strategic Weakening of the Rocket Force
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The PLA Rocket Force is a core pillar of China’s deterrence strategy, including nuclear and conventional missile capabilities.
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Disruptions in leadership may delay modernization efforts and raise concerns over command-and-control integrity.
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Foreign adversaries, particularly the U.S. and its allies, may view this as a window of vulnerability in China’s strategic posture.
3. Increased Centralization of Power, Reduced Internal Checks
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The drastic downsizing of the CMC means fewer voices in critical military decisions, potentially leading to groupthink and miscalculations.
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Xi’s consolidation of control eliminates institutional counterweights, increasing the risk of unilateral or misinformed decision-making, especially in conflict scenarios.
4. Signals of Internal Insecurity in Xi’s Rule
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Despite Xi’s public image as a dominant, unchallenged leader, the need for constant purges suggests underlying instability, disloyalty, or factionalism.
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His focus on loyalty over expertise signals that even within the military, there may be limits to his control—and his fears of betrayal or dissent are real.
5. Opportunity and Caution for Foreign Rivals
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Western governments, especially the U.S., may interpret the leadership shake-up as a moment of strategic hesitation within the PLA—potentially shaping U.S. Indo-Pacific policy or military posture.
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However, instability in a nuclear-armed military also brings risks: desperate leadership decisions, accidental escalations, or miscommunications could increase the chance of conflict.
6. Unpredictable Impact on Taiwan and Regional Posture
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A weakened or unsteady command structure could slow down any planned aggression toward Taiwan—or, conversely, encourage risky actions by Xi to distract from internal issues.
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Regional neighbors like Japan, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines may recalculate their own defense postures in light of China’s internal military shake-up.
Overall Takeaway:
Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purges and the unprecedented downsizing of the Central Military Commission reveal more than just an anti-corruption campaign—they expose the internal fragility of a regime that outwardly projects strength. By prioritizing loyalty over military competence, Xi is reshaping China’s armed forces into a more politically obedient but potentially less effective force.
While these moves may tighten his grip on power in the short term, they also risk undermining the very institutions tasked with safeguarding China’s national security. The disruption of strategic arms leadership, erosion of trust within the ranks, and increasing centralization of authority point to a leadership under pressure, not confidence.
Far from reinforcing stability, Xi’s purges may be creating a volatile mix of fear, silence, and rigidity within China’s military system—at a time when flexibility, professionalism, and deterrence are more vital than ever. For China’s rivals and neighbors, this internal upheaval presents both a challenge and an opportunity: a potentially less cohesive PLA may be less predictable, and therefore more dangerous.
In Xi’s China, control has become the end, not just the means. But in sacrificing military stability for political loyalty, Xi may be weakening the very foundations of his power.
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