China’s Defense in DISARRAY – Taiwan Implications

Xi Jinping’s relentless military purge has gutted China’s top command, leaving its army in chaos just as President Trump strengthens America’s defenses against Beijing’s Taiwan threats.

Story Snapshot

China’s Defense Ministry probes two top Central Military Commission generals—Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli—for serious violations, emptying five of six seats besides Xi.
This marks the largest military purge in decades, targeting operational failures in joint training critical for Xi’s 2027 Taiwan readiness push.
Purges expose deep fractures in the People’s Liberation Army, delaying modernization and weakening Beijing’s aggressive posture—a win for U.S. security under Trump.
Xi consolidates absolute control but installs inexperienced loyalists, raising doubts about PLA combat effectiveness amid global tensions.

Purge Targets Top Generals

China’s Defense Ministry announced on January 24, 2026, investigations into Gen. Zhang Youxia, former CMC senior vice chair, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, Joint Staff Department head, for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Both generals served on the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping’s top military body overseeing the 2 million-strong People’s Liberation Army. Their last public appearance occurred December 22, 2025. This action leaves only Xi and loyalist Zhang Shengmin on the CMC, following prior removals including He Weidong in October 2025 and Li Shangfu in 2023.

Shift from Corruption to Operational Failures

Unlike earlier purges focused on graft, this investigation centers on failures in joint training and force-building, accused of causing severe damage to combat capability development. Gen. Zhang Youxia published an article in November 2025 prioritizing consolidation by 2027 over full joint operations capability, aiming for advanced goals by 2035—a stance diverging from Xi’s accelerated timeline. Early 2026 reports highlight lagging joint training during the final pre-2027 cycle, signaling direct noncompliance with Xi’s demands. The PLA Daily followed the announcement with an editorial recommitting to anti-corruption efforts.

Xi’s Campaign for Loyalty and Control

Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive, launched in 2012, has disciplined over 200,000 officials, extending aggressively to the military post-2022 Party Congress. Purges intensified against the PLA Rocket Force and CMC to enforce loyalty during modernization. Five of the six 2022 CMC appointees now face removal within three years, the largest such action in half a century. Xi, as sole intact leader, removes potential rivals and defiers, shifting to less experienced but devoted underlings. Vacancies may remain unfilled until the 2027 Party Congress.

Implications for U.S. Security and Taiwan

Short-term effects include disrupted command chains, potential junior officer purges, and rushed drills. Long-term, inexperienced leadership delays 2027 readiness goals, per CIA assessments of Xi’s Taiwan invasion timeline. This bolsters Xi’s political control but reveals PLA fractures, eroding confidence in China’s modernization. For America under President Trump, the chaos weakens Beijing’s threat, allowing focus on border security and deterrence. Global analysts note downgraded near-term invasion risks, benefiting U.S. allies like Taiwan amid heightened but riskier Chinese exercises.

Expert Views on Purge Scale

Neil Thomas of Asia Society calls it one of the biggest purges in PRC history. Jamestown analysis ties Zhang’s ouster to defying Xi’s haste. Cato Institute argues it casts deeper doubt on military preparedness, with replacements lacking experience. USNI Proceedings sees removal of final resistance to Xi’s plans. BBC confirms the CMC’s shakier command as of January 28, 2026. Consensus affirms Xi’s control motives, though Taiwan timeline realism divides views—loyalty gains for optimists, readiness shortfalls for skeptics.