China has intensified its crackdown on senior military officials, with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) voting to remove three retired PLA generals, according to state media.
Generals Han Weiguo, Liu Lei, and Gao Jin were stripped of their positions in a move that experts say signals the most extensive shake-up in China’s military leadership in decades.
This purge comes just days before China’s annual Two Sessions 2026, when thousands of delegates convene for the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC meetings in Beijing.
The sessions are a key event in China’s political calendar, shaping national policy and military priorities.
The CPPCC also removed two additional members without providing specific reasons, following an earlier vote that ousted ten other officials.
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Last week, the NPC removed 19 of its delegates, including nine high-ranking military officials, as part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Xi has emphasized rooting out graft across all levels of government and the military since taking power over a decade ago.
Analysts say the current purge, including the investigation of Central Military Commission (CMC) vice chairman Zhang Youxia and chief of staff Liu Zhenli, is the largest in PLA history.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies described Zhang’s detention as “the capstone arrest” of the sweeping military crackdown.
With only one general remaining on the six-member CMC, military experts warn that China’s top command may struggle to coordinate large-scale operations, particularly against Taiwan.
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Beijing has never governed Taiwan but claims the 23-million-strong island as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force for reunification.
Despite internal shake-ups, China continues to maintain the largest defense budget in the Asia-Pacific, accounting for nearly 44 percent of regional military spending, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Analysts believe the leadership reshuffle could temporarily limit China’s operational readiness while consolidating Xi’s control over the PLA.
The Two Sessions of 2026 are scheduled to begin Wednesday, providing a high-profile backdrop for the political and military reshuffle.
Observers say the purge signals Beijing’s determination to strengthen Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption agenda while tightening control over the PLA’s strategic decision-making.
