Beijing's Military Purge Reveals Perils of Factional Warfare in PLA
The ongoing turmoil within China's People's Liberation Army reached a critical juncture in late January 2026, when the Chinese Ministry of National Defence announced unprecedented investigations against two of its highest-ranking officials. Central Military Commission vice chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member Liu Zhenli face scrutiny for what authorities term "serious violations of discipline and law"—a development that signals the military's internal churn is far from over.
The Missing Commander and Unfolding Drama
Observers first noted something amiss during the January 20 plenary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection at Beijing's Bayi Building. Zhang Youxia, second-in-command of China's highest defence and security decision-making body, was conspicuously absent from the crucial meeting. Four days later, the official announcement confirmed what many had suspected: both Zhang and Liu were under investigation, marking another dramatic chapter in the PLA's ongoing power struggles.
Corruption as Political Weapon in Factional Warfare
What appears on the surface as anti-corruption measures reveals deeper currents of factional conflict within China's military establishment. Corruption in the PLA functions as an institutional feature rather than an occasional bug, embedded within a system where state-owned monopolies practice what's ironically called "scientific gatekeeping." This system has enabled bid rigging, favoritism in appointments, and complex interpersonal military-industry relationships that undermine the efficiency and integrity of procurement processes.
In recent years, these corruption investigations have served as weapons in what analysts describe as a factional war between regional power groups:
- The Shaanxi Gang: Led by Zhang Youxia and former discipline czar Zhang Shengmin, with roots in the Army and Rocket Force
- The Fujian Gang: Comprising naval and Taiwan Strait war-planners including figures like He Weidong, Miao Hua, and former Eastern Theatre Command leader Lin Xiangyang
The Rise and Potential Fall of the Zhangs
For a significant period, it seemed the Shaanxi faction had emerged victorious. Zhang Shengmin, as secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, wielded President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign as a strategic hammer, systematically targeting rival power sources within the military. The Fujian gang's leadership—those most familiar with Taiwan Strait operations—fell swiftly under allegations of duty-related crimes and political disloyalty.
Yet the latest developments suggest a dramatic reversal. The very architects of the purge now find themselves under investigation, revealing a fundamental truth about power dynamics in contemporary China: being the last faction standing carries its own unique vulnerabilities. In Xi Jinping's China, consolidation of power often precedes new rounds of scrutiny and potential removal.
Global Security Implications of Military Instability
This perpetual churn within China's military leadership carries profound implications for regional and global security. A military constantly preoccupied with internal power struggles cannot effectively prepare for external conflicts. The systematic dismantling of the Fujian faction has already removed the leadership most knowledgeable about Taiwan Strait operations.
Should Zhang Youxia's investigation lead to his removal, the PLA would face additional challenges:
- A potentially paralyzed command structure during a critical geopolitical period
- The smallest Central Military Commission in decades in terms of operational strength
- Continued uncertainty about who actually controls China's military decision-making
The Unending Cycle of Power and Purge
As dominoes continue to fall within China's military hierarchy, one reality becomes increasingly clear: in the new era of the PLA, there exists no permanent safety, no lasting immunity, and no foreseeable end to the churn. The rule of the Zhangs, which appeared absolute just months ago, now faces existential threats, demonstrating how quickly the ground shifts beneath even the most powerful figures in Beijing's political-military complex.
This ongoing instability raises critical questions about China's military readiness, the reliability of its command structure, and the long-term implications of using anti-corruption campaigns as instruments of factional warfare. As the investigations proceed, the world watches how these internal dynamics might affect China's external military posture and regional security calculations.
