Chinese President Xi Jinping has made a rare public reference to a recent crackdown which saw the country's top military general removed. General Zhang Youxia, who was widely seen as Xi's closest military ally, was removed from his post in January. He was accused of 'serious violations of discipline and law' - typically a euphemism for corruption.
Speaking in a virtual address on Tuesday, Xi said the past year had been 'unusual and extraordinary', adding that the army had 'undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption'. Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives, which critics say have also been used as a tool to purge political rivals.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Xi emphasized that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had effectively addressed 'various risks and challenges', noting that many in the army had undergone 'in-depth political rectification'. He reiterated that PLA troops have been 'loyal to the Party... and proven themselves capable and dependable'.
These comments are part of Xi's annual Chinese New Year greetings to the PLA and mark the first time since 2022 that he has explicitly mentioned corruption in these greetings. Zhang, 75, was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) - a key military body led by Xi - when he was purged. Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, was also removed from his position alongside Zhang.
The latest actions followed a previous purge that saw nine top generals removed in October 2025, which authorities claimed was also an anti-corruption measure. Records show that 14 full-rank generals have been dismissed or investigated in the last three years, with the recent purges reducing the seven-member CMC to just two members, one of whom is Xi himself.
Xi's remarks come amid a general expectation that purging high-ranking officials serves as a signal to the Party about the seriousness of corruption and the potential consequences of not aligning with Xi's directives. This is particularly significant given concerns about the military's operational capacity due to the impact of these sweeping changes.
Speaking in a virtual address on Tuesday, Xi said the past year had been 'unusual and extraordinary', adding that the army had 'undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption'. Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives, which critics say have also been used as a tool to purge political rivals.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Xi emphasized that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had effectively addressed 'various risks and challenges', noting that many in the army had undergone 'in-depth political rectification'. He reiterated that PLA troops have been 'loyal to the Party... and proven themselves capable and dependable'.
These comments are part of Xi's annual Chinese New Year greetings to the PLA and mark the first time since 2022 that he has explicitly mentioned corruption in these greetings. Zhang, 75, was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) - a key military body led by Xi - when he was purged. Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, was also removed from his position alongside Zhang.
The latest actions followed a previous purge that saw nine top generals removed in October 2025, which authorities claimed was also an anti-corruption measure. Records show that 14 full-rank generals have been dismissed or investigated in the last three years, with the recent purges reducing the seven-member CMC to just two members, one of whom is Xi himself.
Xi's remarks come amid a general expectation that purging high-ranking officials serves as a signal to the Party about the seriousness of corruption and the potential consequences of not aligning with Xi's directives. This is particularly significant given concerns about the military's operational capacity due to the impact of these sweeping changes.
