In a scathing front-page editorial on Monday, China’s official military mouthpiece declared that the high-profile investigation into two of the nation’s top generals is a necessary move to “eliminate watered-down” combat readiness. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily argued that the downfall of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli is not merely a legal matter but a strategic requirement to remove “stumbling blocks” hindering the development of a first-class fighting force.
The editorial follows the startling announcement last month that General Zhang Youxia—the highest-ranking uniformed officer in China—and General Liu Zhenli were being probed for “serious discipline and law violations.” Zhang, a decorated veteran and long-time ally of President Xi Jinping, served as the first vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). His removal, alongside Liu, has effectively hollowed out the nation’s top military decision-making body.
The military’s flagship newspaper used unusually vivid language to describe the impact of graft, suggesting that corruption had diluted the actual effectiveness of the PLA’s hardware and personnel. By “squeezing out the water,” the editorial claims the military will rediscover a spirit of “hard work and perseverance,” ensuring that every yuan spent on modernization translates into genuine battlefield lethality.
While Beijing frames the purge as a campaign for purity and professionalism, the scale of the upheaval is unprecedented. With Zhang and Liu sidelined, the CMC is left with only two active members: President Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the commission’s discipline chief. This vacuum comes at a critical juncture as the PLA pushes toward its 2027 centenary goal—a deadline by which Xi expects the military to be capable of significant regional operations, including those concerning Taiwan.
Outside analysts have noted the “political toxins” mentioned in the report, hinting at a deeper crisis of loyalty. Some reports have surfaced alleging more serious breaches, including the potential leak of nuclear secrets, though the Defense Ministry has stuck to the standard script of “discipline violations.”
Beijing-based analyst Einar Tangen cautioned against viewing this as a sudden political knee-jerk. He noted that the PLA inherited by Xi in 2012 was a collection of “small kingdoms” where regional fiefdoms prioritized real estate and factories over professional standards. This latest “in-depth political rectification” is presented as the final phase in dismantling those old power bases.
As the military undergoes this “thorough renewal,” the message to the ranks is clear: absolute loyalty to the Communist Party is the only path forward. The PLA Daily emphasized that the deeper the anti-graft drive goes, the “stronger and purer” the armed forces become, even if the process leaves the top of the command structure looking increasingly lonely.
