Chinese Regime Pushes for Loyalty After Major Military Shake-Up: Insiders

The downfall of top PLA commanders suggests a high-level political struggle over control of the military as Xi Jinping moves to eliminate uncertainty.

Military officers and other delegates leave the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4, 2025. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Following the removal of two of China’s most senior military officials, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) appears to be accelerating a broader effort to reshape the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) top command—one that goes beyond corruption and focuses on political loyalty and control of the armed forces.

The Epoch Times spoke to several sources in China, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, about follow-ups after the purge of Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member Liu Zhenli, who also heads the Joint Staff Department.