Xi launches sweeping purge of Chinese military after Wagner revolt

Saturday 21 February 2026 - 12:40

By: Dakir Madiha

Xi launches sweeping purge of Chinese military after Wagner revolt

Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a far-reaching overhaul of the People’s Liberation Army, reshaping its top ranks in a campaign unmatched since the Mao era. The effort, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing sources close to the Chinese Communist Party leadership, was partly spurred by the 2023 Wagner mutiny in Russia, which reinforced Xi’s belief that modernization alone cannot secure loyalty within the armed forces.

In January, authorities announced investigations into General Zhang Youxia, long considered one of Xi’s most trusted military allies, further shrinking the Central Military Commission, the apex decision-making body overseeing China’s two-million-strong military. The commission, once composed of seven members, is now effectively reduced to Xi himself and General Zhang Shengmin, who leads the anti-corruption drive.

Since mid-2023, more than 60 senior officers and defense industry executives have faced inquiries, dismissal or replacement, according to the Journal’s tally. The campaign began with the Rocket Force, which controls China’s nuclear and conventional missile arsenal, after a U.S. Air Force report disclosed detailed intelligence about its capabilities, raising suspicions of internal leaks. The crackdown then spread across the defense establishment, sweeping up defense ministers, theater commanders and members of the Central Military Commission.

In October 2025, nine high-ranking generals, including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong and the commander of the Eastern Theater responsible for operations involving Taiwan, were expelled from the Communist Party. Days later, Beijing confirmed probes into Zhang Youxia and General Liu Zhenli, the army’s chief of staff. Christopher K. Johnson, a former CIA analyst, described the developments as a dismantling of the top command structure.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Zhang faced accusations ranging from corruption to allegedly sharing sensitive nuclear weapons data with the United States during a closed-door briefing. The New York Times noted that of roughly 30 generals and admirals holding senior posts at the start of 2023, only seven remain in position. About two-thirds of the uniformed members appointed to the Communist Party’s Central Committee in 2022 have been purged or have disappeared from public view.

In a rare public address on February 11, Xi praised the campaign’s results, telling troops the military had undergone a “revolutionary tempering” through anti-corruption efforts and asserting that it was now fully reliable. Shortly afterward, the CIA released a Mandarin-language recruitment video aimed at disaffected Chinese officers, an initiative U.S. officials said sought to capitalize on the upheaval. A CIA representative told Reuters that earlier outreach efforts had already yielded new intelligence sources inside China.

Analysts say the purge has consolidated Xi’s authority but at a potential operational cost. The Central Military Commission now lacks members with combat experience. Mei Fushan of the RAND Corporation told The New York Times that no senior official currently oversees operational training with firsthand battlefield expertise. The Lowy Institute has warned that removing seasoned commanders and prolonging investigations could disrupt training and preparedness, possibly making Xi more cautious about ordering an invasion of Taiwan.

Others caution that a leadership composed primarily of loyalists may ultimately increase the risk of conflict by minimizing internal dissent. Yun Sun of the Stimson Center noted that Xi has demonstrated the ability to remove even the most powerful military figures at will, leaving open the question of whether such centralized control strengthens or weakens China’s security as Beijing approaches its 2027 military modernization target.