President Xi Jinping has grown suspicious of his People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Nine senior generals, including CMC Vice-Chair He Weidong and Rocket Force commander Wang Houbin, were dismissed from their positions. The military has never seen such an intense campaign to eliminate corruption and consolidate power.
The precise nature of Xi’s suspicions are unknown, but many believe his caution began in February 2023 during the balloon incident in which a spy balloon found its way into a US military airspace. The incident embarrassed Xi who was unaware of the plan or mistake.
The “Fujian clique,” which is the most influential in the PLA and closest to Xi, came under intense scrutiny. The shake-up intensified in 2024 into the current year. Defense Minister Wei Fenghe was removed from his position in October 2023, and Li Shangfu was subsequently fired from the same role in June 2024. PLA political commissary Miao Hua was eliminated in June of this year.
“Disciplinary violations” and corruption were noted as the official reason for eliminating top officers, but there are deeper issues at play. The two Rocket Force commanders were subsequently fired, leading to suspicions of political instability in the force itself. When armed police units were purged en masse, it was clear that Xi feared a potential political coup. The Eastern Theater Command is crucial for maintaining order in Taiwan, but the majority of troops found themselves under investigation. Can they be trusted to follow the One China policy and adhere to Xi’s rule?
The PLA is not a conventional army but rather an armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party that works to guarantee the survival of the current regime. Political commissioners are assigned to every major unit to ensure they are completely in line with the CCP’s command. Eliminating these commissioners signaled to the world that the military was swaying from CCP guidance. Xi Jinping must have the final say.
The Community Party demands absolute loyalty. The sheer number of people eliminated during this purge is unprecedented and shows cracks within the ranks. Armies turn on their governments, historically causing regimes to crumble. China is on the brink of war over Taiwan as America begins to arm the island and offer protection in return for semiconductor chips.
China is no stranger to coups amid its long history. Lin Biao was destined to succeed Mao in 1971 but staged a coup against him. Biao’s plot was revealed, and he was executed. Xi has eliminated all potential successors and elders who may not have a say in the decision-making process.