Chairman Xi of China has finally publicly addressed the purge of most of his military leaders and political “allies” in response to what appears to have been a coup attempt by his second-in-command, Zhang Youxia. He addressed the military, stating, “The past year has been unusual and extraordinary, The People’s Army has deepened its political education, effectively addressed various risks and challenges and undergone revolutionary forging in the fight against corruption.”
While Xi has survived the coup, mobilizations within China suggest he has yet to fully restoyre stability. So far, none of the top spots have been replaced by anyone else. The purge leaves the military without seasoned Generals, and one of the few who has experienced combat, Youxia, is among the Generals that have been purged. As of right now, the conditions in China are still fluid by our assessment.
Blurb:
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes rare public reference to recent military purges The Straits Times
from news.google.com
China’s military has grown stronger in the past year in its fight against corruption, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Chinese armed forces on Feb 11, making a rare public reference to the graft probes linked to the country’s top generals.
China’s two highest-ranked generals have been ensnared in disciplinary probes, with
Mr He Weidong expelled in October 2025
and Mr Zhang Youxia placed under investigation in January, marking one of the most high-profile purges of the Chinese military in decades.
“The past year has been unusual and extraordinary,” Mr Xi told the military in a virtual address.
