{"id":2555324,"date":"2026-01-28T08:25:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings-4\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T08:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:27:13","slug":"xi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Xi Jinping&#8217;s purge of generals sets grim tone for annual Communist Party meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fxi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings-4%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2555324&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>xi Jinping\u2019s abrupt removal of Gen. Zhang Youxia from top party and military posts \u2014 along with the purge of Central Military Commission chief of staff Liu Zhenli \u2014 has unsettled Beijing\u2019s power dynamics just before the annual Two sessions. The dismissals,part of xi\u2019s broader anti-corruption and ideological campaign that has thinned PLA leadership ranks,leave the CMC with few experienced members and raise questions about who will appear onstage with Xi in March. Observers note the timing is awkward given the late Chinese New Year and the tightly choreographed nature of the Two Sessions, were seating and appearances signal political standing. Media reports, citing anonymous sources, have even accused Zhang of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-chinese-general-purged-from-military-on-accusations-of-betraying-xi-jinping\/\" title=\"... from ... on accusations of betraying Xi Jinping\">leaking nuclear secrets<\/a> to the U.S., though those claims remain unconfirmed and party authorities are likely to keep details private.Analysts say the scale of recent military purges is unprecedented under recent predecessors and increases uncertainty about succession, military cohesion, and Beijing\u2019s posture on issues such as Taiwan.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Xi Jinping&rsquo;s purge of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >generals sets grim tone<\/a> for annual Communist Party meetings<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2484897\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4433339\/top-chinese-general-purged-military-accusations-betraying-xi-jinping\/\">unceremonious ousting of Gen. Zhang Youxia<\/a> from the upper echelons of the Communist Party has unsettled power dynamics in Beijing not long before the regime&rsquo;s annual general meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Zhang, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and sitting member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party, was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4433973\/china-military-purge-increases-medium-term-taiwan-threat\/\">removed from his offices<\/a> this week on accusation of having &ldquo;severely impacted the political and ideological foundation for unity and progress among all officers and soldiers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4435849\/trump-no-longer-help-iraq-nouri-al-maliki\/\">Trump says US will &#8216;no longer help&#8217; Iraq if Nouri al Maliki returns to power<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4435001\/us-allies-france-eu-canada-major-trade-agreement-next-best-economy-china-india-after-tariff-turmoil\/\">US allies aim for major trade agreements with next-best economies after year of tariff turmoil<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4434898\/milan-mayor-says-ice-security-not-welcome-winter-olympics\/\">Milan mayor says ICE security is &#8216;not welcome&#8217; at Winter Olympics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The general, who has served in the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army for close to six decades, would have been given a seat of honor at the upcoming Two Sessions meetings in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/beijing\/\">Beijing<\/a> &mdash; but now he will likely be watching from state custody, and who will fill his chair remains to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff of the Central Military Commission&rsquo;s Joint Staff Department, was also purged alongside Zhang.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Given that March each year is the party&rsquo;s busy month for meetings, [Zhang&rsquo;s removal] is setting the stage for an interesting period,&rdquo; a former U.S. diplomat with extensive experience in China told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;It doesn&rsquo;t give Xi a lot of time to pick the replacement figures who will be on stage with him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">China&rsquo;s top leaders stand for the national anthem during the closing ceremony of the National People&rsquo;s Congress held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ng Han Guan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The diplomat added, &ldquo;Also Chinese New Year is late this year, beginning in mid February &mdash; most everything shuts down then, which adds more speculation about what March will look like.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The &ldquo;Two Sessions&rdquo; are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings-2\/\" title=\"Xi Jinping...s purge of ... for ... ... meetings\">annual meetings held<\/a> by the National People&rsquo;s Congress and the Chinese People&rsquo;s Political Consultative Conference, typically in March. These are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/failure-to-intercept-trump-shooter-either-malice-or-incompetence-betsy-devoss-brother-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Failure to intercept Trump shooter either \u2018malice or incompetence\u2019: Betsy DeVos\u2019s brother - Washington Examiner\">high-profile political events<\/a> that demand widespread media coverage both domestically and abroad as the Communist Party&rsquo;s top officials gather to set the nation&rsquo;s political and social agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The speeches, seating arrangements, and even casual banter between <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/communist-party\/\">Communist Party officials <\/a>is tightly choreographed &mdash; and footage of the Two Sessions is routinely dissected for insights about interpersonal dynamics within the organs of power.<\/p>\n<p>However, the purge of hundreds of officers from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/peoples-liberation-army\">People&rsquo;s Liberation Army<\/a> over the past few years &mdash; culminating in Zhang&rsquo;s dismissal &mdash; has thinned the ranks of reliable, recognizable military leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Xi spearheaded the widespread purges &mdash; ostensibly targeting corruption, ideological opposition, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/xi-jinpings-purge-of-generals-sets-grim-tone-for-annual-communist-party-meetings\/\" title=\"Xi Jinping...s purge of ... for ... ... meetings\">illicit patronage networks &#038;mdash<\/a>; that ultimately led to Zhang&rsquo;s ousting.<\/p>\n<p>Xi and Zhang were both raised as &ldquo;princelings&rdquo; or &ldquo;red heirs&rdquo; &mdash; children of prominent Communist Party officials who were groomed for leadership from a young age and excelled in politics through nepotism and elite connections. Their fathers fought side by side in the civil war, which ultimately installed Mao Zedong to power and ushered in the People&rsquo;s Republic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China&rsquo;s Central Military Commission, attends the opening session of the National People&rsquo;s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo\/Ng Han Guan, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With the removal of Zhang and Liu, the Central Military Commission is now down to just two members &mdash; Xi, who is a civilian without military service, and Gen. Zhang Shengmin, the 67-year-old secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, who has little experience in combat.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, an analyst with CNA&rsquo;s China Studies Program reported that the &ldquo;pace of high-level PLA purges&rdquo;&nbsp;had accelerated so dramatically that it resulted&nbsp;in the &ldquo;highest proportion of vacancies on the CMC since the Mao [Zedong] period.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4433339\/top-chinese-general-purged-military-accusations-betraying-xi-jinping\/\">TOP CHINESE GENERAL PURGED FROM MILITARY ON ACCUSATIONS OF BETRAYING XI JINPING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Such dismissals were unheard of under Xi&rsquo;s immediate predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, who&nbsp;did not investigate any PLA generals&nbsp;during their respective tenures,&rdquo; CNA reported.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/world\/china\/chinas-top-general-accused-of-giving-nuclear-secrets-to-u-s-b8f59dae?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfARzwRdiSeldjJM8hcpqoalQ16CMHBN39FienkTEtVlP8lJFLow2OKJl8AYHY%3D&amp;gaa_ts=6979144b&amp;gaa_sig=cC-L5TPZzmLUjwIdGlM0Ya8DVHWq553b-ix_l1f88XOe5bq2Oas6B7Cz0MXcEqKJ88pRxQ2UFUwaUxoA6gKiVg%3D%3D\">published a report<\/a> that asserted Zhang had been purged for leaking Chinese nuclear secrets to the United States, citing anonymous sources.<\/p>\n<p>These allegations have not been confirmed and the Chinese Communist Party is likely to keep the granular details of Zhang&rsquo;s perceived crimes under wraps, as they have on similar purges of top officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xi&#8217;s purge of generals unsettles Beijing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2555325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25070312909717-1.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[72082,42090,72076,72081,35581],"class_list":["post-2555324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-china-politics","tag-chinese-communist-party","tag-military-purge","tag-pla-leadership","tag-xi-jinping"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25070312909717-1.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2555324"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2555328,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2555324\/revisions\/2555328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2555325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2555324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2555324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2555324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}