Chinese Military Faces Uncertainty After High-Profile Removals

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has seen a significant shake-up in its senior leadership, with several high-profile removals since 2023. The purges, which include the relief of Zhang Youxia, Li Shangfu, and He Weidong, may be attributed to corruption, relationship networks, and bureaucratic politics. The removals have left only two official members of the Central Military Commission (CMC), with Xi Jinping as chairman and Gen. Zhang Shengmin as head of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection. The implications of these purges on the PLA’s readiness and effectiveness remain to be seen, according to Breaking Defense.