Editorial: Chinese military purge signals Xi Jinping’s firm grip on power
The latest purge can have repercussions on Taiwan, which China considers its own territory and has threatened to take control of the island by force
Inscrutable are the ways of the communist dictatorships. The actions of such regimes appear particularly intriguing if they are driven by territorial ambitions and a desire to reshape the global order. A series of shocking military purges in China makes one wonder if there is anything more to it than meets the eye. While the outside world has no means to get a full picture of what is happening inside the tightly controlled regime, the information that has been trickling in speaks of a swift operation of summary dismissals of some top-ranking military officials on charges of corruption, political activity, and insubordination to President Xi Jinping. A brief official announcement recently said that two top army generals were being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, without giving details. The sudden ouster of Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and widely seen as a close lieutenant of the all-powerful president, has raised many eyebrows in diplomatic circles. Facing the axe along with him was Liu Zhenli, the head of the joint operations of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Following the latest purge, the CMC is now effectively down to two members – Xi himself, who is the chairman, and Zhang Shengmin, PLA’s anti-corruption head. The latest military shake-up is the biggest in recent history, reminiscent of the infamous clean-ups of the Mao Zedong era. These purges are apparently designed to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Xi.
They are part of a broader anti-corruption drive that has resulted in punishment for more than two lakh officials since the Chinese leader came to power in 2012. At least 17 Generals from the PLA have been removed so far. The latest purge can have repercussions on Taiwan, which China considers its own territory and has threatened to take control of the island by force. China also has increased military pressure and, last month, launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan for two days after the United States announced major arms sales to Taiwan. General Zhang, a celebrated war veteran, was made the vice-chairman of the CMC, an institution seen as Xi’s eyes and ears in running the PLA’s forces day to day. It is possible that Zhang’s assessment of the PLA’s operational readiness for a Taiwan invasion may not have aligned with Xi’s deadline. Xi had doubled down on his Taiwan pledge, reiterating that China’s ‘reunification’ is ‘unstoppable’. Differences between Zhang and Xi over how to achieve this objective may have sealed the former’s fate. His unceremonious removal means that no one is safe within the Chinese system. Zhang may now face a secret trial in the military justice system and is likely to be imprisoned. His downfall will ultimately have a big effect on the power elite in Beijing because it removes one of their safety boundaries.
