The Calculus of Purges: Xi Jinping Consolidates Power Ahead of Key Meetings
The timing is the signal. Just days before the convening of the Two Sessions – China’s annual legislative meetings – the removal of 19 officials, including nine from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), isn’t a prelude to policy debate, but a demonstration of power. President Xi Jinping isn’t simply waging an anti-corruption campaign; he’s systematically reshaping the political landscape, and the scale of these removals, coupled with the proximity to the NPC and CPPCC meetings, reveals a strategic effort to preempt any potential challenges to his authority. The purge isn’t about eliminating graft, it’s about eliminating risk.
Original reporting: the BBC.
Military Realignments and the Zhang Youxia Precedent
The most significant aspect of this latest wave is its concentration within the military. The removal of Li Qiaoming, commander of the PLA Ground Force, and Shen Jinlong, former PLA Navy commander, alongside several other officers, follows closely on the heels of the dismissal of Zhang Youxia, Xi’s long-time ally and highest-ranking general, on accusations of “serious violations of discipline and law.” This isn’t an isolated incident. October 2025 saw nine top generals removed under the guise of an anti-corruption drive, and this pattern suggests a deliberate effort to replace established figures with loyalists. While state media frames these actions as necessary to combat corruption – Xi Jinping himself has repeatedly called corruption “the biggest threat” to the Communist Party – the sheer number of military officials targeted raises questions about the true motivations. Who benefits and who loses? Xi Jinping consolidates control over the PLA, ensuring its unwavering loyalty, while potentially capable commanders are sidelined, and a climate of fear permeates the ranks.
Beyond the PLA: Provincial Power and the “Tigers and Flies” Campaign
The removals extend beyond the military, encompassing provincial officials like Sun Shaochong, the former party chief of Inner Mongolia. This broad scope echoes Xi’s initial “tigers and flies” anti-corruption drive launched in 2013, which aimed to target both high-ranking officials (“tigers”) and lower-level bureaucrats (“flies”). However, the current wave feels less like a sweeping crackdown on systemic corruption and more like a targeted dismantling of potential opposition networks. The lack of specific details surrounding the accusations – the ubiquitous “serious violations of discipline and law” – reinforces this perception. Critics have long argued that Xi’s anti-corruption campaigns serve as a political tool to eliminate rivals, and the current removals lend credence to that claim. The stated goal of rooting out corruption provides a convenient justification for actions that primarily serve to strengthen Xi’s grip on power.
Historical Echoes: Mao’s Purges and the Cult of Personality
This pattern of purges isn’t unique in Chinese history. The current situation bears a striking resemblance to the political climate under Mao Zedong, who frequently used accusations of ideological impurity and corruption to eliminate perceived enemies and consolidate his own authority. While Xi Jinping hasn’t reached the same level of personality cult as Mao, the emphasis on ideological loyalty and the ruthless suppression of dissent are unsettling parallels. The scale of the current removals, while not comparable to the Cultural Revolution, is significantly larger than any similar purge in recent decades. This suggests a growing sense of insecurity within the leadership, or a deliberate strategy to create a chilling effect that discourages any form of opposition. The Two Sessions, intended to showcase national unity and policy direction, are instead overshadowed by the specter of political instability and the arbitrary nature of power.
The Five-Year Plan and the Next Political Move
The Two Sessions, commencing March 4th, will see the announcement of China’s next five-year plan and annual economic targets. However, the real story won’t be in the economic figures, but in the personnel changes that follow. Will Xi Jinping use the meetings to further consolidate his power, perhaps by promoting loyalists to key positions within the NPC and CPPCC? Or will he attempt to project an image of stability and unity, downplaying the recent purges? The key chess move to watch is the appointment of replacements for the removed officials. The profiles of those chosen – their loyalty, their experience, and their connections to Xi Jinping – will reveal the true extent of his ambition and the direction he intends to take China in the coming years. The removals aren’t the end of the game; they’re a calculated opening move.
