China Insider China Insider | China’s PLA Purges, Board of Peace, China’s Demographic Crisis
Jan 27, 2026
High-level removals shake up China’s military leadership and what that means for morale and modernization. A new international Board of Peace and its efforts to counter China’s global influence are explored. China’s collapsing birthrate and the political and economic forces behind the demographic crisis are examined.
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Purges Hollow Out Top Military Leadership
- Xi Jinping has purged a large share of the Central Military Commission, leaving only himself and a discipline-focused vice chair.
- This concentration signals political loyalty matters more than formal military experience in PLA promotions.
Corruption Charges Mask Political Loyalty Tests
- Anti-corruption charges serve as a routine cover for political purges targeting perceived disloyalty to Xi Jinping.
- Miles Yu argues the scale of purges suggests political loyalty, not genuine corruption, is the true motive.
Charged With Violating Chairman Supremacy
- Official language flagged Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for violating the CMC rule of chairman supremacy.
- That wording frames their removal as a challenge to Xi's infallibility rather than ordinary misconduct.