Understanding the Fallout: Powerful Generals Targeted in Xi's Latest Military Purge
Amidst the secretive government and military compounds in China, influential generals are vanishing, raising questions of corruption This has serious implications on combat readiness and suggests the issue is far more extensive than meets the eye
Subscribe to CNN's Meanwhile in China newsletter to stay informed about the impact of China's rise on the world, including the ongoing developments within the country's military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).
Amid the walled government and military compounds of the Chinese capital, influential generals have been quietly vanishing from public sight. Some have been unexpectedly relieved of their high-ranking positions, including the defense minister, without any official explanation.
Despite intense public speculation and vague responses from government spokespersons, a significant indication of a widespread cleansing within China's military was revealed last Friday. Nine high-ranking PLA officers were removed from the country's top legislature.
The National People's Congress (NPC) serves as a mere rubber stamp parliament, but its members benefit from immunity from arrest and criminal prosecution as outlined in the constitution. Historically, such abrupt expulsions have often signaled the initiation of further disciplinary or legal measures.
In line with the lack of transparency surrounding Chinese elite politics, no explanation was provided for the sudden removal of the generals from the legislature.
Many military experts attribute the recent purges in China's military to potential corruption related to the procurement and development of advanced equipment, a key aspect of President Xi Jinping's efforts to modernize the PLA and elevate it to a "world class" fighting force. The scope and intensity of these purges remind some of the graft investigations that occurred in the early years of Xi's leadership, which resulted in the downfall of numerous high-ranking generals and their associates.
Since assuming power in 2012, Xi has prioritized the eradication of corruption and disloyalty, and the recent personnel changes indicate that this campaign is ongoing within the military. The focus of the recent crackdown is the PLAs Rocket Force, a specialized division established by Xi to manage China's growing inventory of nuclear and ballistic missiles.
The Chinese leader has characterized the force as a critical element for strategic deterrence, a key support for the country's status as a major power, and a fundamental component for national security.
"Currently, it is clear to Xi Jinping and the Chinese high command that the Rocket Force's leadership has been compromised," said James Char, a longstanding observer of the PLA and a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
"If this were allowed to fester over the longer term it would definitely have repercussions on the PLAs overall combat capabilities," Char said.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping shakes hands with officers during his inspection of the PLA's Rocket Force in Beijing on September 26, 2016.
Li Gang/XinhuaGetty Images
Hotbed for corruption
Among the nine PLA officials expelled from the legislature, five are linked to the Rocket Force.
Gen. Li Yuchao, along with his political commissar, was abruptly replaced as commander in July. Also on the list were Li's predecessor, two former deputy commanders, and an official in charge of the forces equipment procurement. Three others ousted were involved in arms procurement, two from the PLAs Equipment Development Department and one who oversaw equipment for the PLA Navys South Sea Fleet before becoming its commander.
The former commander of the PLA Air Force was among the remaining generals dismissed from the legislature. "The affiliation of these nine personnel suggests that corruption is likely the main reason for the investigations into their wrongdoing," Char said.
Just two days after the removal of three aerospace executives from China's military-industrial complex, nine others were also ousted from their roles in the country's top political advisory body. The three executives, hailing from state-owned defense contractors, were stripped of their positions, indicating a potential corruption probe into military procurement for the highly secretive and lucrative Rocket Force. This field is known for its massive funding and is seen as a fertile ground for graft.
Char stated that the PLA Rocket Force has received significant investment in expensive equipment since 2016, during Xi's comprehensive military reforms. As part of this overhaul, the Rocket Force was transformed into a complete armed service from the former Second Artillery Corps. Since then, it has undergone an unprecedented expansion, acquiring new intercontinental and intermediate-range ballistic missiles and increasing the number of missile brigades from 29 to 40.
"Clearly, the expansion of the PLA Rocket Force has led to a massive influx of equipment and investment from the PLA," Char remarked.
Recent satellite images have revealed the construction of numerous silos for intercontinental ballistic missiles in Chinese deserts, leading the US Defense Department to project that China could possess around 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 if it maintains its current rapid pace of stockpile expansion.
CNN reported in September that China, along with Russia and the United States, has constructed new facilities and tunnels at their nuclear test sites in recent years. According to Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Commands Joint Intelligence Center, President Xi Jinping's focus on these developments may have inadvertently led to a crackdown on corruption, thereby weakening patronage networks that could challenge Xi's authority.
"Xi wants qualified people whose loyalty and judgement he trusts."
During a military parade in Beijing in 2019 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, military vehicles bearing DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles pass by Tiananmen Square. (Photo credit: Jason Lee/Reuters)
Implications on combat
The Rocket Force is poised to have a significant impact in any potential confrontation involving Taiwan or the South China Sea, which are two areas of potential conflict between the US and China. They are expected to take the lead in initiating the first attacks on enemy forces and also act as a deterrent to prevent US intervention, as stated by Schuster.
The far-reaching purge of the force raises the key question of whether it will significantly impact its operations and combat readiness. According to Schuster, Xi has not made any changes to the operational-level commanders and staff so far.
He stated that although the senior leaders played a role in creating the force, it is unlikely that they were involved in operations and planning at this stage. Despite the wide-scale purge affecting morale in the Rocket Force and subjecting it to increased scrutiny, Char believes that the overall combat capabilities of the PLA have not been significantly compromised.
As part of Xi's military overhaul, the rocket force assets have become increasingly integrated into the PLA's joint theater command system. This ensures that the PLA's ability to conduct missile strikes as part of a larger joint campaign will not be compromised. Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, experts emphasize the importance of Xi cleaning up the corruption within the PLA, particularly regarding its weapon systems, in the long run.
Improved
A successful purge leading to a more disciplined, efficient, and loyal fighting force could ultimately benefit Xi. Russia's military shortcomings in the conflict with Ukraine, including subpar equipment, expired ration packs, and vulnerabilities in their tanks, have underscored the dangers of corruption for Xi and his high-ranking military leaders.
"The cleaning up is important because going forward, he would want to ensure the PLA Rocket Force has functioning lethal equipment that works on a battlefield," Char said.
Former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed from his post in October 2023, after disappearing for months from public view.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Tip of the iceberg
Signs of problems around arms procurement were already apparent in July.
Before the sudden leadership change within the Rocket Forces, the Equipment Development Department initiated a new effort to combat corrupt procurement practices, urging the public to report any suspicious activities dating back to October 2017. This investigation coincided with the time when the department was under the leadership of Li Shangfu, the former defense minister who was removed from his position in October after being absent from public sight for an extended period without explanation.
Zhang Yulin, who serves as one of Li's deputies in the equipment department, was one of nine individuals removed from the legislature last week. According to Char, now that they have lost their NPC membership, their cases will proceed to the military indictment process, with Char noting that the purge is ongoing.
I'm sure there are other high-ranking military officials whose actions have been under investigation. It seems like there is more to uncover beyond what we already know. Some of the officers being investigated may not have high enough rankings to be in the legislature, while others may have already retired.
The former Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, who retired and passed the leadership to Li Shangfu, is of high interest to analysts as he has not been heard from since last March. He was the first commander of the Rocket Force after its reorganization at the end of 2015.
In August, when asked about Wei's whereabouts, a spokesperson for China's Defense Ministry reaffirmed the military's commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, promising to thoroughly investigate and crack down on any corrupt officials.
General Ju Qiansheng, the leader of the PLAs Strategic Support Force in charge of space and cyber warfare, has not been seen since the summer. His absence was noted when he missed a reception in late July and a reward ceremony for Chinese astronauts in September.
It has been over ten years since Xi took office, and he is still contending with corrupt and disloyal generals and officers, some of whom he handpicked and promoted. "I think he can remove anyone he wants. But the fact that he continues to remove people speaks volumes about his past poor judgment when it comes to these personnel appointments," Char said.
"The purges we are witnessing are a direct result of China's one-party centralized system and the lack of public oversight over the PLA," explained Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington. She also emphasized that despite Xi's efforts, corruption cannot be fully eliminated.
"Power has a tendency to corrupt. And when power is absolute, corruption becomes absolute," she stated. "X is resolute in battling corruption, but it is a byproduct of the system xe is upholding. It's a Catch-22 situation."
Reporting by Simone McCarthy of CNN.
