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In late 2025, Xi Jinping removed two generals overseeing Taiwan operations and Beijing’s defense amid a sweeping purge at sensitive commands. The People’s Liberation Army saw expulsions touch promotions and the Central Military Commission. Measures reached the Eastern Theater Command and Rocket Force. He Weidong vanished in March 2025 and was expelled in October, the first removal of a CMC vice chairman since 1967. Fujian-linked officers including Miao Hua and Lin Xiangyang were expelled; Yang Zhibin was promoted on December 22. Wang Qiang disappeared in September 2025; Han Shengyan was promoted in December as the CMC counted four members after October 17.

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00:00Xi makes two Chinese generals vanish for violating party discipline, Taiwan and Beijing under new management.
00:07Xi Jinping has just reshaped China's military command at its most sensitive pressure point.
00:13In late 2025, two of the generals responsible for Taiwan operations and Beijing's defense were removed,
00:20one publicly disgraced, the other silently vanished.
00:24Their replacements were installed personally by Xi as a sweeping purge accelerated.
00:30Nearly 30% of his own top promotions are now tainted.
00:34Let's look into this deeper.
00:36In late 2025, Xi Jinping reshaped China's military at its most sensitive points.
00:41Two generals overseeing Taiwan operations and Beijing's defense were removed,
00:45one publicly disgraced, the other silently vanished.
00:48The move accelerated a broader purge that saw nearly 30% of Xi's top promotions under scrutiny,
00:54signaling unprecedented turmoil within the People's Liberation Army, PLA.
00:58General He Weidong, Xi's vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, CMC,
01:04disappeared in March 2025 and was formally expelled in October.
01:08His ouster, the first of a sitting CMC vice chairman since 1967,
01:13raised concerns about trust at the highest level.
01:16Several purged officers, including He Weidong, Miaohua and Lin Xiangyang,
01:20shared roots in Fujian province, Xi's former base.
01:23Expulsions dismantled the so-called Fujian clique, citing corruption, bribery and promotion manipulation.
01:30State media framed the purge as a loyalty crisis,
01:33emphasizing allegiance to Xi personally over institutional norms.
01:37General Lin Xiangyang, formerly in charge of the Eastern Theater Command overseeing Taiwan,
01:41was expelled, leaving the post vacant for months.
01:44On December 22nd, Xi promoted General Yang Zhibin, an Air Force officer,
01:49highlighting an emphasis on air superiority and signaling personal trust from Xi.
01:55General Wang Chang, previously commanding the Central Theater overseeing Beijing,
01:59vanished in September 2025.
02:01General Han Shengyun was promoted in December,
02:04consolidating Xi's authority over the capital's defenses.
02:07Beyond the nine formal expulsions, at least 14 generals vanished from July to October 2025.
02:13Rocket force purges further complicated nuclear command,
02:17raising concerns over operational readiness.
02:20After October 17th, the CMC consisted of just four members, the smallest since Mao's era.
02:26Analysts warn that fear of dissent could reduce strategic innovation and operational flexibility.
02:31She has ordered full PLA readiness for a strategic decisive victory by 2027,
02:37coinciding with the party congress.
02:39While purges disrupt planning, consolidation of loyal commanders could embolden future military actions.
02:46By expelling top generals he promoted, Xi reinforced personal authority.
02:50The cost may include fear, disrupted planning, and weakened professionalism,
02:55leaving the PLA's ability to execute complex operations as the ultimate test.
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