Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

Read this article in our Deep Dive:
Xi Jinping's military purges

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 4. © Stéphane Oiry

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 4/5 – 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. This fourth episode focuses on how this internal struggle is severely impacting the Eastern Command, which is responsible for Taiwan. [...]

Published on 04/09/2025 at 04:00 GMT Reading time 5 minutes

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

China, France
Paris kicks off preparations for increasingly strategic biannual Pacific naval meet

The preparatory meeting for the 20th Western Pacific Naval Symposium to be held in November in Tahiti will launch on 24 March. This year, Paris is chairing the major biannual forum which, once a purely formal affair, has taken on a more strategic dimension under Beijing's influence since the last edition in Qingdao.

Subscribers only Defence 23.03.2026

Senior naval officials from nearly 30 countries pose for a group photo at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) held in Qingdao, China, on 22 April 2024.

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, Taiwan, United States
Trump shows signs of appeasement to Beijing on Taiwan issue

China can only rejoice at Washington's symbolic concessions on Taiwan, which confirm the White House's wish to take Chinese-US relations in a purely transactional direction.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-door diplomacy 05.01.2026

US President Donald Trump, 22 November 2025, Washington DC.

Spymaster | China
Xu Youming, the military intelligence chief who survives purges

As purges decimate China's military leadership, the head of military intelligence Xu Youming is weathering the storm. The quintessential shadow technocrat, who is unfailingly loyal, is Xi Jinping's indispensable eye on Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.

Subscribers only Defence 05.12.2025

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

FranceDGSE photo album raises eyebrows at trial of service's ex-boss

United StatesIntelligence to help stop China buying farmland

BelgiumFrontex tougher on Brussels than Paris

China/UKAmbassador's return highlights Taiwan urgency

Subscribers only 17.11.2025

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

Ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to shake hands, China's foreign ministry is calling for compromise, contrasting with the Ministry of State Security's hard line approach.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 21.10.2025

President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders' summit in Osaka, Japan, on 29 June 2019.

France, Taiwan
Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

Despite Dassault Aviation's CEO recently insisting that 'Taiwan wants the Rafale', he is facing headwinds. Taipei's Mirage 2000s are on their last legs, Paris refuses to modernise them and, above all, Taiwan has already turned to American F-16 Venoms.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 06.10.2025

Éric Trappier, Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation Group, poses next to a poster depicting a Rafale fighter jet on 4 March 2022.

China, Hong Kong
Hong Kong abandons hopes of autonomy in military intelligence

Despite rumours that Hong Kong had gained some autonomy in military intelligence, Intelligence Online can confirm that the Chinese Communist Party retains control in all strategic areas, given the lack of trust in the local authorities.

Subscribers only Defence 22.09.2025

China
Beijing enlists local authorities' support in drive to secure military-industrial infrastructure

Against a backdrop of mistrust towards the People's Liberation Army, China has handed over the supervision of strategic military infrastructure to local Communist Party officials.

Subscribers only Defence 19.06.2025

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recruits patrolling the China-Russia border in Heilongjiang province, a sensitive area where the CCP plans to step up protection of key military-industrial facilities, 27 December 2015.

Spotlight | China, Taiwan
Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau has held meetings with MPs from the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee. It is on high alert regarding Beijing's options in the new geopolitical landscape created by Donald Trump's election.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 11.03.2025

Taiwanese military intelligence is questioning Donald Trump's intentions regarding the fate of the island.

China
Xi Jinping puts grassroots organisations at forefront of PLA anti-corruption drive

As part of his campaign to eradicate corruption within the People's Liberation Army, the Chinese president is mobilising grassroots organisations to identify 'problematic' profiles within the military.

Subscribers only Defence 28.02.2025

China
Anti-corruption campaign in Chinese military takes root at local level

At the Guoanbu's instigation, President Xi Jinping has launched a fresh corruption crackdown to quash dissident voices still present within the armed forces. He is relying on the loyalty and enthusiasm of local Chinese Communist Party units to drive his bottom-up approach.

Subscribers only Defence 04.02.2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews troops during his inspection of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison stationed in the Macao Special Administrative Region in southern China on 20 December 2024.

China
Xi Jinping launches new military-industrial 'clique' to take over from Communist Youth League of China

Under the aegis of vice premier Zhang Guoqing, the Chinese Communist Party is laying the foundations for a new generation of leaders, with experience in both the defence industry and politics.

Subscribers only Defence 07.07.2023

China
Xi Jinping forms new security clique to stamp out corruption with iron fist

The Chinese leader has entrusted several members of the CCP's new security faction with the challenging task of ensuring the anti-corruption campaign is strictly implemented, especially within those state structures over which Xi Jinping believes he does not yet have full control.

Subscribers only Agencies 13.04.2023

China, Taiwan
Beijing maps 'Endgame' plan for Taiwan for end of Xi Jinping's new five-year term

A growing proportion of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Military Commission agrees that Xi Jinping's departure from politics in five years' time should usher in the end of Taiwan's self-rule and its reunification with China.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 12.09.2022

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

China, France
Paris kicks off preparations for increasingly strategic biannual Pacific naval meet

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

China, Taiwan, United States
Trump shows signs of appeasement to Beijing on Taiwan issue

Spymaster | China
Xu Youming, the military intelligence chief who survives purges

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

FranceDGSE photo album raises eyebrows at trial of service's ex-boss

United StatesIntelligence to help stop China buying farmland

BelgiumFrontex tougher on Brussels than Paris

China/UKAmbassador's return highlights Taiwan urgency

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

France, Taiwan
Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

China, Hong Kong
Hong Kong abandons hopes of autonomy in military intelligence

China
Beijing enlists local authorities' support in drive to secure military-industrial infrastructure

Spotlight | China, Taiwan
Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

China
Xi Jinping puts grassroots organisations at forefront of PLA anti-corruption drive

China
Anti-corruption campaign in Chinese military takes root at local level

China
Xi Jinping launches new military-industrial 'clique' to take over from Communist Youth League of China

China
Xi Jinping forms new security clique to stamp out corruption with iron fist

China, Taiwan
Beijing maps 'Endgame' plan for Taiwan for end of Xi Jinping's new five-year term

Related topics to this article

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Donald Trump

Volodymyr Zelensky

Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud

Hezbollah

CIA

Deep Dive | China PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

China, France Paris kicks off preparations for increasingly strategic biannual Pacific naval meet

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

China, Taiwan, United States Trump shows signs of appeasement to Beijing on Taiwan issue

Spymaster | China Xu Youming, the military intelligence chief who survives purges

The Agencies' Gazette DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

FranceDGSE photo album raises eyebrows at trial of service's ex-boss

United StatesIntelligence to help stop China buying farmland

BelgiumFrontex tougher on Brussels than Paris

China/UKAmbassador's return highlights Taiwan urgency

China, United States Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

France, Taiwan Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

China, Hong Kong Hong Kong abandons hopes of autonomy in military intelligence

China Beijing enlists local authorities' support in drive to secure military-industrial infrastructure

Spotlight | China, Taiwan Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

China Xi Jinping puts grassroots organisations at forefront of PLA anti-corruption drive

China Anti-corruption campaign in Chinese military takes root at local level

China Xi Jinping launches new military-industrial 'clique' to take over from Communist Youth League of China

China Xi Jinping forms new security clique to stamp out corruption with iron fist

China, Taiwan Beijing maps 'Endgame' plan for Taiwan for end of Xi Jinping's new five-year term

Related topics to this article

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

China, France
Paris kicks off preparations for increasingly strategic biannual Pacific naval meet

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

China, Taiwan, United States
Trump shows signs of appeasement to Beijing on Taiwan issue

Spymaster | China
Xu Youming, the military intelligence chief who survives purges

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSE photos, US farmland, Frontex stress test results, China's London envoy

China, United States
Beijing's spies and diplomats split on how to handle Trump

France, Taiwan
Taiwan's Rafales: a complicated marriage

China, Hong Kong
Hong Kong abandons hopes of autonomy in military intelligence

China
Beijing enlists local authorities' support in drive to secure military-industrial infrastructure

Spotlight | China, Taiwan
Taiwanese intelligence on watch for possible US shift on China

China
Xi Jinping puts grassroots organisations at forefront of PLA anti-corruption drive

China
Anti-corruption campaign in Chinese military takes root at local level

China
Xi Jinping launches new military-industrial 'clique' to take over from Communist Youth League of China

China
Xi Jinping forms new security clique to stamp out corruption with iron fist

China, Taiwan
Beijing maps 'Endgame' plan for Taiwan for end of Xi Jinping's new five-year term