NYT: Xi Jinping Risks Losing Confidence In His Own Military

• 4.02.2026, 10:25

Large-scale purges led to a decrease in the professionalism of the command staff.

Large-scale personnel purges in the Chinese Armed Forces, initiated by Chinese President Si Jinping, may lead to a decrease in confidence in the command and create a vacuum in the military leadership.

This is reported by The New York Times.

Since the beginning of 2023, only seven of 30 high-ranking generals and admirals have retained their positions. The campaign is officially announced as an anti-corruption campaign, but as the publication notes, it also serves a political function - strengthening personal loyalty to China's leader.

The most high-profile episode was the detention of Zhang Yuxia - vice chairman of China's Central Military Council. Along with him, Liu Zhenli, chief of the joint staff, was also removed from his posts. Both are accused of "serious violations of discipline and the law."

The NYT said the loss of key leaders, particularly those in charge of operational training, has led to a decline in the professionalism of the command staff. This could undermine Xi Jinping's confidence in the combat readiness of his own army.

At the same time, as The Wall Street Journal notes, the firing of Zhang Yuxia and other commanders gives Xi Jinping more personal control over the army. The WSJ estimates that this could speed up a decision on a potential military operation against Taiwan.