Why did Xi Jinping purge his 'Last Brother'?
The purge of General Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping’s sword and “brother,” signifies a strategic pivot from personal patronage to absolute systemic control. However, the removal of the PLA’s sole combat veteran introduces a critical variable: the potential erosion of operational realism and an increased risk of miscalculation.
Official Announcement: A Total Decapitation of the Military Command
On January 24, 2026, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) and state media officially announced investigations into General Zhang Youxia (CMC Vice Chairman) and General Liu Zhenli (Chief of the Joint Staff Department). The charges are cited as suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
This development follows the removal of Vice Chairman He Weidong in October 2025. With the simultaneous removal of Zhang Youxia (ranking second in the military hierarchy) and Liu Zhenli (the operational head), the Central Military Commission (CMC) has effectively lost its operational core. This represents the most significant personnel overhaul of the PLA since Xi Jinping took power.
Zhang Youxia: The Last Combat Veteran of the Princelings
The significance of Zhang Youxia’s fall cannot be overstated, given his unique standing within the Xi administration. His status rested on three pillars:
First, he shared a blood-bond background with Xi Jinping. Born in 1950, Zhang is a “Princeling” from Shaanxi province, sharing the same ancestral home as Xi. His father, General Zhang Zongxun, fought alongside Xi’s father, Xi Zhongxun, in the First Field Army during the Chinese Civil War. Due to these deep generational ties, Zhang was considered Xi’s most trusted proxy within the military—a de facto “brother.”
Second, he was the only member of the top brass with actual combat experience. He served as a company and regimental commander during the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) and the Battle of Laoshan (1984). This frontline experience made him an indispensable asset for professionalizing the PLA and driving its modernization, distinguishing him from pure political commissars.
Third, he was the center of gravity for the “Shaanxi Gang” within the military. Serving as the backbone of Xi’s praetorian guard, his immense influence paradoxically made him the primary target in the final phase of consolidating one-man rule.
Context of the Purge: From Personal Trust to Systemic Control
The decision to eliminate a loyalist and a critical military asset like Zhang Youxia can be analyzed through two primary lenses:
First, the complete dismantling of factionalism. Approaching his fourth term (or indefinite tenure), Xi appears intolerant of any alternative power centers. Even among close allies, the formation of an independent bloc like the Shaanxi Gang is viewed as a latent threat. This marks a shift in governance style where absolute obedience to the Party institution supersedes personal loyalty.
Second, the validation of the control architecture. The ability to remove the second-highest-ranking general without resistance suggests that Xi’s military control mechanisms are fully operational.
The reorganization of the Information Support Force (ISF) in 2024 to centralize C4ISR capabilities, combined with the “Human Firewall” of the Political Commissar system, effectively neutralized any potential for praetorian resistance.
Xi has demonstrated that he no longer relies on the loyalty of generals, but on the efficacy of the system.
Strategic Implications: The Risk of Miscalculation
Western security experts and major think tanks view this event as a signal of the accelerated politicization of the PLA.
Institutions such as CSIS and ISW assess this not merely as an anti-corruption drive, but as a consolidation of political power. The primary concern is the “brain drain” of professional military expertise. With the departure of combat veterans like Zhang, the CMC may become an echo chamber of political sycophants. If military rationality is subordinated to political correctness, the risk of miscalculation by the leadership regarding Taiwan or the South China Sea increases significantly.
Foreign media outlets also note that the demand for absolute purity and loyalty indicates an underlying insecurity within the regime, despite the outward appearance of total control.
Future Trajectory: Bureaucratic Regression
Following Zhang Youxia’s exit, the PLA is likely to experience the following shifts:
First, a culture of “Ambiguity Aversion” among commanders. In the wake of such high-profile purges, field commanders are likely to prioritize political survival over operational initiative. This creates a risk of bureaucratic paralysis, where units may hesitate to act without explicit orders from the center, reducing the PLA’s responsiveness in a dynamic conflict.
Second, uncertainty regarding the 2027 Centenary Goal. With the removal of key executors Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli just one year before the 2027 benchmark for military modernization (and potential readiness for a Taiwan contingency), there may be short-term disruptions in equipment procurement and Joint Operations integration.