The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) expelled nine top-ranking generals from its ranks and the military for alleged financial crimes over the weekend, the most dramatic purge since CCP general secretary Xi Jinping took office in 2012.
The “shocking” purge, which included the People's Liberation Army’s second-highest-ranked general, could delay or confuse Beijing’s military modernization efforts until the dust (and paranoia) settles.
The move follows the CCP’s dismissal of two former defence ministers on corruption charges last year, and the disappearance of Qin Gang, a foreign minister, in 2023.
The CCP’s purge came just days before the start of the annual meeting, or plenum, of the CCP’s Central Committee, which ran from October 20–23. Xi delivered a closed-door speech on the first day, laying out China’s next ‘five-year plan,’ covering economic development, security, innovation, and education from 2026–30.
The Central Committee consists of the CCP's 200 highest-ranking officials and 167 alternate members.
