Xi Jinping Military Purge Deepens as China’s PLA Leadership Crackdown Raises Taiwan Readiness Questions

China’s leader Xi Jinping has intensified a sweeping military purge within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), removing and investigating an increasing number of senior officers in what analysts describe as one of the most significant defence upheavals in years.

The campaign, part of Xi’s anti-corruption drive within the PLA, has impacted top ranks, including figures linked to the Rocket Force and defence procurement systems. The removals are broadly seen as both a crackdown on corruption and a wider effort at Xi’s consolidation of power within the PLA, reinforcing political loyalty among the armed forces.

The purge occurs at a delicate juncture for Beijing, as tensions over Taiwan remain high. Observers note that questions surrounding the PLA purge and Taiwan war readiness have surfaced, especially given that the Rocket Force plays a crucial role in any potential Taiwan contingency planning. While Beijing insists that the investigations aim to bolster discipline and enhance combat effectiveness, the scale of the leadership overhaul has sparked debate about short-term disruption versus long-term modernisation benefits.

The developments also emphasise ongoing challenges in China's military reform and modernisation, including worries about procurement corruption and command restructuring. By reshaping the Central Military Commission leadership and strengthening party control, Xi seems intent on ensuring a closer alignment between the Chinese Communist Party and the military establishment.

Whether the purge will ultimately improve China’s war preparedness or indicate deeper internal instability remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the China PLA leadership crackdown highlights the strategic importance Xi attaches to discipline, loyalty, and operational readiness amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific.