Cracks in the armor: Xi Jinping's military purge raises questions of control

By Global Watch | 2025-06-30

China's recent removal of senior military officials, including Gen. Miao Hua, Vice Adm. Li Hanjun and nuclear scientist Liu Shipeng, marks another chapter in President Xi Jinping's sweeping crackdown on the country's defense and security establishment.

While the official narrative frames these purges as part of an anti-corruption campaign, the scale and frequency of such actions raise deeper questions about the stability of Xi's control over the military and the loyalty of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The purge: a pattern of consolidation

Since assuming power in 2012, Xi has not been able to trust the military, blaming corruption and indiscipline within the PLA. Dozens of senior generals, including two former defense ministers, have been removed or punished under his leadership.

Miao, once the youngest general in the Chinese military hierarchy and a key figure in managing Communist Party ideology within the PLA, is the latest high-profile casualty.

Miao's meteoric rise under Xi's leadership, followed by his dramatic fall, underscores the precarious nature of power within China's military. His removal, along with that of Vice Adm. Li and Liu, signals the deep rooted issues in the PLA.

Yet, the repeated use of "serious violations of discipline" as a euphemism for corruption invites skepticism. Critics question whether Xi truly is rooting out malfeasance or whether he is trying to eliminate dissent and consolidate his authority.

Loyalty or fear?

Xi has consistently emphasized the importance of ideological loyalty among PLA officials, tying their allegiance to the Communist Party's goals of military modernization and global influence. However, the frequency of these purges suggests a deeper concern: loyalty within the ranks is not as steadfast as Xi would like.

The removal of high-ranking officials raises the question of whether the PLA's leadership is fully aligned with Xi's vision.

Factions with the military might still resist his centralized rule. Or maybe corruption is so pervasive that even Xi's allies have to be sacked.

A fragile command

The implications of these purges extend beyond internal politics. A military that is constantly under scrutiny and reorganization risks losing cohesion and operational effectiveness. For a nation aspiring to become a superpower, such instability could have far-reaching consequences.

Moreover, the removal of figures like Liu, a deputy chief engineer in China's nuclear program, highlights potential vulnerabilities in critical sectors.

The existence of corruption or dissent at such high levels says nothing positive about the integrity of China's strategic capabilities.

The dictator's dilemma

Xi's aggressive consolidation of power may ensure short-term control, but it exposes the inherent risks of centralized authority. A system that relies on purges to maintain order is one that lacks organic stability.

Now observers are wondering how long Xi can sustain this approach before the cracks in his armor become too wide to ignore.

The focus should not only be on the individuals removed but on the broader implications for China's military and political future as well.

Maybe Xi is tightening his grip, but maybe the system is struggling to maintain cohesion under the weight of its own contradictions.

The answers to these questions will shape not only China's trajectory but its role on the global stage too.