Xi Jinping is driving a wave of purges in the Chinese army

BeijingXi Jinping has dismissed nearly a fifth of the generals he appointed since coming to power in 2012. The ongoing purges in the Chinese military demonstrate the president's iron grip on the armed forces, but also raise questions about the strength of loyalty to Xi, and whether it exists at all. Last October, the latest purge was officially announced with the dismissal of nine high-ranking generals, including He Weidong, the number two in the command structure and a close associate of Xi. He Weidong was also a member of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the Communist Party and the country. But despite the high rank of those ousted, mostly three-star generals, this is only the latest chapter in a long process. Previously, even two defense ministers—Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu—had already been dismissed and detained.

The purges are part of the anti-corruption campaign and are officially due to accusations of embezzlement, accepting bribes, or other types of corrupt behavior. Corruption investigations are accompanied by guidelines on the "austere" behavior that the military must adopt.

The modernization and renewal of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been one of the priorities of Xi Jinping's presidency. Xi's goal is to equip the country with leading weaponry and a well-trained military, a process that is expected to culminate in 2027, a date by which, According to many analysts, he could be prepared to invade Taiwan.(It should be noted that many analysts predicted this for years, specifically 2025). It should come as no surprise, then, that this year the defense budget has reached $250 billion, second only to the United States globally.

To carry out this modernization, Xi Jinping has not hesitated to lead it and exercise total control over the military. In this regard, he also assumed the position of Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Communist Party body that controls the armed forces and that de facto He assumes military command. In this way, Xi Jinping has consolidated political and military control of the country in his hands. Precisely because of this absolute control and the appointment of trusted personnel, the succession of dismissals and corruption allegations is surprising.

Notable Absences

In the opaque world of Chinese politics, details are scrutinized and images are examined. The grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia It was an opportunity to see who was participating in this deployment and which high-ranking officials were missing without explanation, resulting in several dismissals. For example, General Li Yuchao was absent. In 2015, he participated in the parade before the missile formation and was also present at the 2009 ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. In 2022, he was promoted to head the missile force, which controls the nuclear arsenal and has one of the largest budgets. But in 2023, he and seven other officers from this division were accused of corruption and expelled from the army.

The purging process, whether military or civilian, always follows the same pattern: first, the official disappears from public life without explanation, and after several months, it is announced that they are under investigation. Finally, a verdict is reached. In China, investigations end in conviction 99% of the time, according to judicial statistics.

When Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he launched an intense campaign to reform the armed forces and rid them of corruption. The military had a poor reputation due to numerous cases of illicit enrichment, the buying of positions within the ranks, and the sale of military vehicle license plates that granted impunity on the roads. The military in China wielded considerable power and a vast structure that included affiliated companies and even universities. It also owned land. In the early years of economic opening, military commanders were able to undertake large real estate developments, and corruption was present in these transactions.

Corruption Problems

Several analysts highlight two phases in the anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by Xi Jinping. In the first, between 2012 and 2022, Xi sought to eliminate his rivals and consolidate his absolute power. He achieved this through a constitutional amendment that allowed him to remain in power indefinitely, without term limits. From 2022 onward, the anti-corruption campaign continued, but the targets shifted to individuals who, in theory, were loyal to the president. Xi demonstrated his willingness to remove close associates.

In the case of the army, the problems are pure corruption; that is, personnel enriching themselves through the opportunities afforded by their positions, for example, through bidding on arms purchases. But possible infiltrations by external forces and contacts with spies are also being investigated.

The ongoing purges raise concerns about a risk of loss of control within the army, especially worrying if it involves nuclear weapons. They also warn of the risk of a confrontation between factions. While the People's Liberation Army has a mandate to protect the Communist Party, there are more nationalist factions that advocate for armed forces primarily focused on protecting the country.