General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), recently published a lengthy article on military modernisation, emphasising President Xi Jinping’s role as commander-in-chief and the party’s “absolute leadership over the People’s Army.” While the text appeared largely ceremonial, analysts and observers are focusing on what the broad, public pledges of loyalty may indicate.
Zhang’s statements included a pointed warning against “two-faced people who engaged in false loyalty,” stoking speculation about a series of high-profile military dismissals over the past year. Notably, several senior officers originally promoted by Xi—including General He Weidong, the second-ranking vice-chairman of the CMC, and Admiral Miao Hua, the army’s political commissar—have been removed, marking the most senior military purges in decades. Former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were also purged in 2023.
Observers note that many of the officers removed were veterans of the Eastern Command, responsible for Taiwan contingency planning, raising concerns that the shake-up could impact China’s strategic posture toward the island. Analysts suggest the dismissals may reflect either a struggle for influence between Zhang and other ambitious generals or a recalibration of China’s approach to Taiwan, though the exact motivations remain opaque.
Dennis Wilder, former U.S. national security adviser for China, told Times UK that the moves could represent a power struggle between Zhang and younger generals like He Weidong and Miao Hua, whose rapid rise and assertive stance on Taiwan may have been seen as overreach.
Historically, Zhang and Xi share deep personal ties: their fathers were close allies during the early years of the People’s Republic, and the two men are believed to have grown up together. This background has led some observers to speculate that Zhang may now hold unprecedented military influence, potentially positioning him as either Xi’s strongest ally or a latent rival within China’s top echelons.
At 75, Zhang’s seniority and entrenched connections complicate succession and suggest that the PLA’s internal dynamics will continue to shape Beijing’s policy toward Taiwan and its broader regional posture. Wen-Ti Sung, a Taiwanese political analyst, noted that while Xi’s grip on the military appeared secure during recent high-profile parades, the current purges could signal a more complex balance of power at the heart of China’s military leadership.
The developments underscore the opaque and high-stakes nature of China’s internal military politics, where loyalty, strategy, and personal alliances intersect at the top levels of the PLA, influencing both domestic control and foreign policy ambitions.
