China has quietly removed multiple high-ranking military officials amid unconfirmed reports a senior general shared sensitive material with the U.S. Analysts say the purge appears driven by Xi Jinping’s effort to consolidate political control and warnings that it weakens short-term military readiness. Experts caution the long-term effect may be greater political control but heightened risk of miscalculation, particularly around Taiwan. Beijing describes the actions as anti-corruption investigations.
Experts Warn Xi’s Sweeping Military Purge Signals Deep Instability and Risks for Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with delegates attending the first People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force Party congress during his inspection of the PLA Rocket Force, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2016.(Getty Images)
China’s abrupt removal of multiple senior military officials — alongside unverified Western media reports that a top general passed sensitive, possibly nuclear-related material to the United States — has intensified concerns about internal turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the operational readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Authorities in Beijing have not publicly confirmed espionage claims. Still, analysts speaking to Fox News Digital say the scale and pattern of recent dismissals point to mounting instability under President Xi Jinping, with possible consequences for regional security and rising tensions over Taiwan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviews the troops during his inspection of the Chinese People's Liberation Army PLA garrison stationed in the Macao Special Administrative Region, south China, Dec. 20, 2024.
Political Consolidation, Not Immediate War
Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the shake-up appears driven primarily by political control rather than an imminent plan for major military action.
"These unprecedented purges reflect Xi’s clear focus on control and cohesion — ensuring the People’s Liberation Army is politically reliable, centralized and obedient before it can be tasked with high-risk operations," Singleton said.
Singleton added that while the purge does not make conflict certain, it demonstrates how seriously Xi is preparing the PLA for potential use in the coming years. He suggested the situation resembles historical instances where political urgency clashed with military assessments of readiness.
Members of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy march during the rehearsal ahead of a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, Sept. 3, 2025.
Experts Flag Systemic Risks
Gordon Chang, another China analyst, described the episode as extraordinary and said the uncertainty underscores deep systemic instability.
"There’s no way to make sense of this right now," Chang told Fox News Digital. "The situation is fluid, the regime is in turmoil, and the PLA is likely less ready because dozens of senior officers have been removed or arrested."
Some Western reports claim a senior general supplied core technical material about China’s nuclear arsenal to the U.S.; Beijing has not confirmed those allegations. Chang voiced skepticism about the espionage narrative while acknowledging it could be used to justify severe internal punishments.
The military exercises mobilizing the Chinese PLA Navy, Army, Air Force and the Chinese Coast Guards, which are deemed as a punishment to Taiwan's call for independence.
Short-Term Weakness, Long-Term Risk
Analysts warn the purge could reduce short-term military readiness by removing experienced officers. However, they also note that tightening political control can suppress dissent and, over time, make riskier decisions easier to pursue — potentially raising long-term dangers of miscalculation.
On Taiwan, experts say a deliberate, full-scale invasion of the main island remains unlikely in the near term given the complexity of such an operation and current command instability. Still, several analysts warned instability increases the chance of accidental escalation or a conflict borne of missteps.
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on Oct. 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.
Official Response
China’s embassy in Washington, D.C. quoted a spokesperson, Liu Pengyu, saying the Party Central Committee has launched disciplinary and supervisory investigations into senior officers — naming Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli — for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Liu framed the actions as part of a comprehensive, zero-tolerance anti-corruption campaign intended to strengthen the armed forces.
What Remains Unclear
Key facts remain opaque: names and exact charges, the veracity of espionage allegations, and the full scope of personnel changes. Observers caution that limited transparency means conclusions must be tentative, even as the pattern of removals signals a system under strain.
Taken together, analysts say the purge highlights a paradox inside Beijing: efforts to tighten political control over the military may inadvertently deepen instability, increasing the risk of strategic miscalculation during a period of heightened regional tension.
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