Xi Jinping probes top generals in major escalation of China’s military purge

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping has placed the country’s top-ranking general under investigation, marking the latest expansion of a sweeping purge aimed at rooting out corruption and disloyalty within the military.

The investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, underscores a relentless internal crackdown that is thinning the leadership ranks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), one of the world's most powerful fighting forces.

This move follows a series of high-profile removals of senior officers, including several former commanders of the strategic Rocket Force.

Observers say Xi is moving to consolidate absolute control over the military, purging any figures suspected of graft or wavering loyalty. The campaign aims to transform the PLA into a modernized, combat-ready force that is entirely beholden to Xi’s personal authority.

The investigation into China’s highest-ranking military officials marks more than a routine anti-corruption sweep; it is a definitive projection of power by President Xi Jinping, signaling that no echelon of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains untouchable. This systematic purge of the veteran officer corps carries profound, bifurcated implications for Beijing’s military readiness. In the near term, the removal of experienced commanders risks eroding command cohesion and fostering institutional inertia. However, the move facilitates a broader generational shift, allowing Xi to install a loyalist cadre that may be more inclined to execute aggressive operational mandates.

For regional stakeholders, particularly those navigating territorial disputes in the South China Sea such as Vietnam, this internal churn presents a complex strategic landscape. While a military high command in flux may temporarily dial back maritime assertiveness, a "purified" and more ideologically aligned PLA could prove more unpredictable and assertive once Xi has fully consolidated his grip on the ranks. Hanoi is undoubtedly monitoring these developments with high scrutiny, as the evolution of the PLA’s leadership will necessitate a critical recalibration of Vietnam’s strategic balancing act with Beijing.