Xi Jinping Acknowledges Military Purge Amidst Ongoing Anti-Corruption Campaign

Thu Feb 12 2026 21:17:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant address, President Xi Jinping touches on a recent military purge, signaling his commitment to fighting corruption within the People's Liberation Army. This comes after the removal of General Zhang Youxia, a close ally, among others.

President Xi Jinping has made a rare public statement regarding a recent crackdown in the military, highlighting the removal of General Zhang Youxia due to allegations of serious misconduct. This purge forms part of Xi's broader anti-corruption campaign, which critics argue is also used to eliminate political rivals. With the military experiencing significant leadership changes, Xi's comments serve to reassure the Communist Party and the public about the stability and integrity of the armed forces.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made a rare public reference to a recent crackdown which saw the country's top military general removed.

General Zhang Youxia, who was widely seen as Xi's closest military ally, was removed from his post in January. He was accused of serious violations of discipline and law - typically a euphemism for corruption.

Speaking in a virtual address on Tuesday, Xi said the past year had been unusual and extraordinary, adding that the army had undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption.

Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives, which critics say have also been used as a tool to purge political rivals.

In his remarks on Tuesday, Xi also added that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had effectively addressed various risks and challenges, adding that many in the army had gone through in-depth political rectification.

He also said that PLA troops had been loyal to the Party... and proven themselves capable and dependable.

The latest remarks come as part of Xi's annual Chinese New Year greetings to the PLA. This is the first time since 2022 that he has made any reference to corruption in his annual greeting.

Zhang, 75, was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) - a top military leadership group headed by Xi, when he was purged. Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, was also removed from his post along with Zhang.

The most recent purge comes on the back of another crackdown which saw nine top generals - including some CMC members - removed from their posts in October 2025. Authorities at the time said the purges were part of an anti-corruption drive as well.

Records show that 14 full-rank generals have been sacked or investigated in the past three years. The latest purges have decimated the seven-member CMC to just two - of which one is Xi himself.

The latest comments by Xi are highly unusual as he never does press conferences or gives interviews, even to the tightly-controlled Chinese media. However, these remarks likely serve to reassure the population and Party cadres regarding the stability and purpose behind such significant personnel changes.

Xi has made the fight against corruption a central pillar of his rule, calling it the biggest threat to the Communist Party and asserting that the battle remains grave and complex. Experts suggest the language around these purges does not clarify whether the motivations stem from genuine corruption, political rivalries, or a mix of forces at play within the Party.