Xi Jinping’s sweeping purge of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has entered a new and dangerous phase, shaking the very foundations of China’s military establishment and creating a climate of fear that is eroding morale across the ranks.
The suspended death sentences handed down on May 7, 2026, to former defence ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe marked a watershed moment in the history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Both men, once trusted allies of Xi, were convicted of bribery and corruption, and their downfall illustrates how Xi is willing to sacrifice even his closest confidants to consolidate absolute power.
This campaign, while framed as an anti‑corruption drive, is increasingly seen as a reign of terror designed to instil fear rather than discipline, leaving the PLA weakened and disoriented.
The severity of these sentences stunned officers across the military. For decades, generals of such stature had avoided extreme penalties, but Xi’s decision to impose suspended death sentences has created an atmosphere of paranoia. Mid‑level and junior officers now worry that they could be targeted next, regardless of their loyalty or performance.
Analysts note that this climate of suspicion is undermining cohesion within the PLA, leaving soldiers hesitant to act decisively and commanders reluctant to take initiative. The purge has effectively dismantled trust between the ranks and leadership, replacing it with fear of reprisal.
Xi’s campaign has not stopped with Li and Wei. In January 2026, investigations were announced into Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff Department. Both remain officially listed in their positions but have disappeared from public view, a sign of the opaque and unpredictable nature of Xi’s purge. Zhang, notably, was the only general with combat experience, having fought in the 1979 war against Vietnam.
His removal, along with Liu’s disappearance, has left the PLA without seasoned leadership at a time when China is striving to modernize its forces by 2027. This leadership vacuum is delaying modernization efforts and weakening operational readiness.
The strategic consequences of this purge are profound. Xi’s obsession with control has hollowed out the PLA’s command structure, creating instability at the top and leaving critical positions vacant. The sentencing of Wei, who once commanded the Rocket Force, raises concerns about the reliability of China’s nuclear command and control.
The dismantling of networks within the equipment system, where Li Shangfu spent much of his career, further exposes the fragility of China’s military procurement and development programs. These disruptions threaten China’s ability to achieve its ambitious military modernization goals, undermining its capacity to project power globally.
Critically, Xi’s campaign is less about fighting corruption and more about instilling fear. By criminalizing political issues and framing them as legal violations, he ensures loyalty through intimidation rather than competence.
This reign of terror may secure Xi’s grip on power, but it comes at the cost of morale. Officers now operate under constant suspicion, eroding trust within the ranks and weakening the esprit de corps essential for effective military operations.
Soldiers who fear their superiors are unlikely to fight with conviction, and commanders who fear purges are unlikely to lead with confidence.
The PLA, once seen as the backbone of China’s rise, is increasingly described by insiders as a “giant with brain paralysis.” Its vast size and resources are undermined by a leadership consumed with survival rather than strategy.
Xi’s reliance on secret intelligence networks to monitor officials reflects his isolation at the top, where he has purged five of the seven members of the Central Military Commission since 2022, leaving only himself and Zhang Shengmin.
This concentration of power may give Xi absolute authority, but it also leaves him dangerously exposed, with few allies and a military riddled with distrust.
The broader implications of Xi’s purge extend beyond China’s borders. A military consumed by internal purges cannot credibly project strength abroad. Xi’s obsession with control risks hollowing out the PLA’s ability to fight sustained campaigns, undermining China’s credibility as a global power.
While Xi may believe that fear ensures loyalty, the reality is that it erodes the very foundations of military effectiveness. The PLA’s modernization drive, aimed at achieving parity with the United States by 2027, is now at risk of being derailed by internal instability.
In conclusion, Xi Jinping’s purge of the PLA represents a paradox: while it strengthens his personal control, it simultaneously weakens China’s military capacity. The suspended death sentences for Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe mark a turning point, not in reinforcing discipline, but in spreading terror that corrodes morale and operational readiness.
As China seeks to project power globally, its military is being hollowed out from within, leaving it less capable of achieving the ambitions Xi so forcefully proclaims. The PLA may remain the largest military force in the world, but under Xi’s reign of terror, it is a giant crippled by fear, distrust, and paralysis.
References:
https://www.defencesecurityasia.com/xi-jinping-military-purge-2026
https://www.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/xi-military-purge-2026
https://www.prcleader.org/xi-purging-generals-2026
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/xi-jinping-pla-purge-analysis
Comment