Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

Spotlight | China
Why Xi Jinping's upheaval within the Chinese military is just the beginning

Published on 11.02.2026 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 3 min

Chinese soldiers in front of a giant screen showing President Xi Jinping. © REUTERS/Jason Lee

The story behind China's latest purge (1/2) – The turmoil sweeping the Central Military Commission is no surprise move, but rather the result of a long-term political strategy. Xi Jinping is consolidating control of the military by neutralising faction leaders and using anti-corruption as a tool.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Intelligence Online relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

More from this series

China's latest purge

Part 1 Why Xi Jinping's upheaval within the Chinese military is just the beginning

Part 2 Xi's military purge extends to expat families

The Agencies' Gazette
DIA's ongoing vacancy, re-election at French intel vets body, PLA's anti-corruption meetings

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

United StatesDIA struggles to find new head of counter-narcotics

FranceAlain Juillet re-elected head of intelligence veterans association

ChinaCentral Military Commission applies Xi Jinping's directives

Subscribers only 08.06.2026

The Agencies' Gazette
US counter-propaganda, Triads and the DGSE, Rolling purges at the PLA, Bulgarian prosecutor's 'clean hands' operation

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

USState Department plans to boost fight against online disinformation

FranceGiovanni Falcone Prize awarded to ex-Asia specialist at the DGSE

ChinaXi's hidden message following ex-defence ministers' suspended death sentences

Bulgaria ‘Clean hands operation' for public prosecutor after defendant accused of Russian espionage acquitted

Subscribers only 25.05.2026

Spotlight | China
Xi Jinping's secret meeting to ‘crush the termites' in the military

Frustrated by what he sees as insufficient results from the anti-corruption campaign within the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese president summoned the sole surviving member of the Central Military Commission to urge him to get the job done.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations, Defence 11.05.2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shanghai, on 30 April 2026.

Deep Dive | China
Disappearances, restructuring and intimidation: China's anti-corruption crackdown is cranked up

The anti-corruption drive launched nearly 15 years ago has entered a new phase: it is now being extended to the intelligence services, with forced resignations, curtailed operations and budgetary cuts.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 06.05.2026

Xi, the purges and the succession (3/5).

Deep Dive | China
Xi Jinping and the delicate challenge of Donald Trump

The Chinese leader is preparing to welcome Donald Trump to Beijing. That visit goes beyond mere diplomatic concessions and is part of a delicate internal dynamic: the run-up to the 2027 Party congress, where Xi Jinping is focusing his efforts to consolidate his position.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 04.05.2026

Spotlight | China
New purges prompt speculation over minister of public security's withdrawal

New probes into the People's Liberation Army, Rocket Force, United Front and security services have reignited persistent rumours surrounding Wang Xiaohong's near absence from public life.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 10.04.2026

Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong in Beijing, on 30 January 2024.

China
Beijing's Fujian aircraft carrier and its catapult far from fully operational

Despite Beijing's promising announcements, images of China's third aircraft carrier have left military analysts sceptical. Several technical details suggest that the equipment designed to launch and recover the carrier's aircraft has not been tested extensively.

Subscribers only Defence 18.03.2026

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, during its maiden sea trials, on 8 May 2024.

China
Xi to deploy CCP 'consultants' to Chinese businesses abroad

Chinese President Xi Jinping has already created a system to mobilise academics directly in the service of the politburo. Deeming this a success, he now wants to extend the scheme to businesses, which will have to set up special research offices in their overseas subsidiaries.

Subscribers only Operations 17.03.2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on 12 March 2026.

China
Xi's military purge extends to expat families

The story behind China's latest purge (2/2) – The turmoil within the Central Military Commission is the result of a long-term political strategy. The accompanying anti-corruption campaign against those whose families live abroad is beginning to have a serious impact on the People's Liberation Army.

Subscribers only Operations, Defence 12.02.2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on 3 September 2025.

China
Purge leaves only Xi Jinping and 'incorruptible' loyalist at China's Central Military Commission

A wave of 17 arrests coordinated by China's Ministry of Public Security heralds a profound restructuring of the Central Military Commission as Xi Jinping further consolidates his grip on the People's Liberation Army.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-Door Diplomacy 22.01.2026

Zhang Shengmin is the only remaining operational member of China's Central Military Commission alongside President Xi Jinping.

China
China's Central Military Commission gets complete overhaul

The first post-plenum propaganda meeting convened last week by the new vice-chairmen of the commission reveals a landscape undergoing a complete overhaul: ongoing purges, frozen appointments and an internal power struggle in which Xi Jinping remains the silent arbiter.

Subscribers only Defence 17.11.2025

Zhang Youxia in Beijing on 4 March 2025.

Spotlight | China
Beijing expands means for decentralised diplomacy abroad

Following an internal review of its subnational diplomacy operations, the Chinese Communist Party has decided to boost investment in this method of building influence in the United States and Europe.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 03.11.2025

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.

Deep Dive | China
Xi loyalists also caught up in China military restructuring

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 3/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Subscribers only Defence 03.09.2025

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 2/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Subscribers only Operations 02.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 2.

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 1/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Free access Defence 01.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army.

Spotlight | China
Xi Jinping weakened: a political transition soon underway?

Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to be stronger than ever politically but recent signals, particularly relating to his health, have reignited a debate over his succession. The leader may step down from one of his three roles as early as this summer, according to sources close to Beijing.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 23.06.2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping on 8 May 2025 in Moscow.

Text size

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Spotlight | China
Why Xi Jinping's upheaval within the Chinese military is just the beginning