Beijing: China’s military establishment is witnessing growing turbulence after a sweeping purge within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as Xi Jinping intensifies his anti-corruption campaign targeting senior officers. Reports indicate that several high-ranking military officials have been removed from key political positions, raising concerns about instability within China’s armed forces.
According to reports, on February 26, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) removed ten PLA officers from their posts as NPC deputies just days before the country’s annual “Two Sessions” political meetings. Under China’s political system, such removals are often interpreted as a sign that the individuals are facing serious disciplinary or corruption-related investigations.
An analysis published by the international affairs magazine The Diplomat suggested that the move could trigger broader repercussions within the PLA’s leadership structure. The report indicates that the purge may have been linked to past associations with previously dismissed senior generals, creating what analysts describe as a “domino effect” within the military hierarchy.
Among those reportedly affected are five former senior commanders who had once held key leadership roles across the PLA’s army, navy, air force, and other operational units. Additionally, two operational commanders from the 73rd Group Army, stationed in Fujian Province and responsible for monitoring developments around Taiwan, were also removed. Three more generals associated with organizations under the Central Military Commission (CMC) were reportedly stripped of their NPC deputy status.
Experts say the purge reflects an expanding investigation within China’s military establishment that has been underway since 2022 as part of Xi Jinping’s wider anti-corruption drive. Although many of the officers affected were retired, their removal suggests that investigations are spreading across multiple branches and units of the PLA.
The report also highlighted the case of retired Admiral Shen Jinlong, who served as commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy from 2017 to 2021. Shen, along with Admiral Qin Shengxiang, was removed from his NPC position during the purge. Shen was known as a career naval officer who rose through the ranks after beginning his service as a squad leader, gaining extensive operational experience over the years.
By contrast, Qin spent much of his career working within the Central Military Commission before later serving as a senior political official in the PLA Navy. During their tenure, China’s navy underwent significant expansion, both in terms of fleet size and operational capabilities.
However, their professional networks reportedly intersected with that of Zhang Youxia, a senior figure within the CMC who was suddenly removed from office earlier in January 2026 following investigations. Analysts believe such personal and professional ties may have contributed to the recent dismissals.
The removal of these officials is seen as part of a broader wave of purges that began in 2025 and intensified in early 2026. Observers say the continuing investigations are creating unease within the officer corps, as both active and retired commanders could potentially be drawn into the probe.
Security analysts warn that the expanding investigations could affect the PLA’s operational readiness, particularly if leadership disruptions extend to frontline units. Concerns are especially focused on sensitive military formations such as the 73rd Group Army, located across the strait from Taiwan, where stability and leadership continuity are considered critical.
China’s leadership has repeatedly emphasized the need to eliminate corruption within the military and strengthen the loyalty of the armed forces to the Communist Party. Xi Jinping, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, has made military discipline and modernization a cornerstone of his leadership agenda.
However, analysts say the scale and frequency of recent purges suggest a deeper restructuring within the PLA, one that could reshape China’s military leadership in the coming years.
As investigations continue, experts believe more military officials—both serving and retired—could face scrutiny, making the current purge one of the most significant shake-ups within China’s armed forces in recent years.
