Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Xi’s Military Purge Raises Challenge of Rebuilding China’s Leadership
China has removed two very senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
The Communist Party accused them of breaking political rules, corruption and factionalism.
A report says the removals may disrupt relationships and networks inside the military.
President Xi Jinping wants military leaders who are loyal to him and able to command effectively.
Finding people with both qualities may take time because commanders gain experience over many years.
The report says military modernization is still expected to continue.
It also says stronger political oversight may help ensure new capabilities stay under Communist Party control.
The Chinese Communist Party announced on September 21 that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were expelled from the Party and military.
The two officers were accused of breaches of political discipline, corruption and factionalism.
A Mekong News Myanmar report said their removal disrupts military networks built over decades.
The report said Xi Jinping faces difficulty replacing commanders who are both politically loyal and experienced.
China’s military modernization, including AI and advanced-weapons programmes, is expected to continue under existing institutions.
- Who
- The Chinese Communist Party expelled senior military officers Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli; the report identifies President Xi Jinping as facing the leadership challenge.
- What
- The expulsions form part of a purge of senior military leaders and raise the challenge of rebuilding a leadership that is both politically loyal and operationally capable.
- When
- The expulsions were announced on September 21; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- China.
- Why
- The Party accused the officers of political-discipline breaches, corruption and factionalism; the report says their removal aims to address perceived political unreliability.
Political control
Military command capability
Removing senior commanders
Political control
The purge removes commanders the Party deemed politically unreliable and may strengthen political oversight.
Military command capability
The report says the removals disrupt established military relationships and networks and create a challenge in finding credible replacements.
Balancing loyalty and experience
Political control
Xi’s goal, as described in the report, is a military leadership trusted by him and controlled by the Communist Party.
Military command capability
The report argues that operational experience, professional relationships and command authority take years to develop and cannot be supplied by appointments alone.
- Officers expelled
- Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli
- Announcing body
- Chinese Communist Party
- Announcement date
- September 21; year not specified in the article
- Positions held
- Zhang was a former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission; Liu was former chief of its Joint Staff Department.
- Alleged offenses
- Breaches of political discipline, corruption and factionalism
- Modernization areas mentioned
- Artificial intelligence and advanced weapons