THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Top PLA general urges military loyalty to Xi Jinping Reuters Top PLA general calls on military to resolutely obey Xi Jinping's command Beijing: President Xi Jinping on Saturday met a largely condensed delegation of military officials at the annual parliament session after a major purge of the top brass of the PLA, while a top general called on the defence personnel to resolutely obey the Chinese leader's command. President Xi attended a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, currently holding its annual session. This is Xi's first meeting after the removal of two senior Chinese military officials, including the highest-ranking PLA official Gen Zhang Youxia in January regarded as a major purge of the PLA in recent history, sending shock waves among the rank and file. Zhang Youxia was the Vice Chairman of the all-powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), headed by Xi himself. After his removal, the six member CMC, which is the overall high command of the Chinese military, has been reduced to two - Xi and Gen Zhang Shengmi…

China's Xi promotes two PLA generals after anti-corruption purge thins top military ranks China's leader, Xi Jinping, has made notable advancements by promoting two military officials to generals, marking a pivotal change in the People's Liberation Army's hierarchy. Following rigorous anti-corruption efforts that reshaped the leadership structure, these promotions are essential for restoring loyalty and filling key positions within the Central Military Commission, setting the stage for a comprehensive reorganization prior to the forthcoming Communist Party congress.

Purge of top Chinese general throws military into turmoil NOTE: China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) is the supreme national defense organization and the highest command body overseeing all Chinese armed forces, including the PLA (People’s Liberation Army), navy, air force, rocket forces, and armed police. It acts as both a Communist Party and state organ, with Xi Jinping serving as Chairman. (NBC News) BEIJING — The downfall of China’s top general, second in command and once a close ally of President Xi Jinping, has thrown the leadership of the country’s military into turmoil and raised questions about Taiwan’s future. The Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday that Gen. Zhang Youxia , vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) , which controls the armed forces, was under investigation and accused of serious “violations of discipline and law.” Liu Zhenli , another People’s Liberation Army (PLA) general and a lower member of the commission who was in charge of the Joint Staff Department, was also put under investigation, the ministry said. The statement gave no details about the allegations or the charges they faced. An editorial Sunday in the Liber…

Professionalism and Factionalism in the PLA Leadership Selection 11.05.2012 The Beijing leadership has reshuffled the high command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as the military goes through its own leadership transition separate from but linked to the 18th Party Congress beginning later this week. The move, which was announced last week, has also given hints about the reorganization of the policy-setting Central Military Commission (CMC). The membership of a much rejuvenated CMC will be confirmed by the 18th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress, which is due to open on November 8. Although this round of personnel selection reinforces the PLA’s increasing dedication to professionalism in its upper echelons, this series of personnel changes also reflects intense horse-trading among the party’s principal factions. The new chiefs of the “Four General Departments”—the General Staff Department (GSD), General Political Department (GPD), General Logistics Department (GLD) and General Armaments Department (GAD)—are respectively General Fang Fenghui (age 61); General Zhang Yang (age 61); General Zhao Keshi (age 65); and General Zhang Youxia (age 62). Moreover, General Ma Xiaotia…

Unprecedented Wording by PLA Mouthpiece Casts Zhang Youxia and Liu ... A sharply worded editorial published by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily has cast an unusually stark spotlight on the political significance of the investigations into two of China’s most senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, underscoring what analysts describe as a profound breakdown in trust at the very apex of the country’s armed forces. The editorial, which appeared prominently on the front page of the PLA Daily’s physical edition on Sunday (Jan 25), followed an official announcement a day earlier that both generals were under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law” — a phrase commonly used by Chinese authorities to signal corruption probes but one that often masks deeper political accusations. What set this editorial apart was not merely its timing, but its language. In an unusually forceful formulation, the PLA’s official mouthpiece accused Zhang and Liu of having “seriously trampled on and undermined the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the Central Military Commission (CMC) chairman,” a direct reference to President Xi Jinping, who occupies the C…

Leadership Infighting Emerges in Chinese Military Mouthpiece Politics Leadership Infighting Emerges in Chinese Military Mouthpiece PLA Daily articles hint big changes afoot in Chinese government and military Our Correspondent Jul 30, 2025 6 Share The night has a thousand eyes. Photo from Xinhua In keeping with Mao Zedong’s famed maxim that “power comes out of the barrel of the gun,” the Chinese leader is normally the chairman of the Central Military Commission, comprising a handful of officials who control the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Currently that is President Xi Jinping, although over recent weeks the Chinese leader has disappeared and reappeared in public view, with many meetings chaired not by him but by subordinates, triggering fresh scrutiny over whether he may be forced to relinquish at least some of his power. Those questions have triggered new analysis of a spate of articles on the front page of the print version of the PLA Daily , the military mouthpiece, explicitly talking of internal conflict within the top military leadership. A July 22 front page commentary by an unnamed commentator, for instance, even said major changes are occurring in the ruling Chinese Co…

Xi Focus: Building world-class armed forces for China Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-08-01 20:48:15 BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) celebrates its 97th founding anniversary on Thursday. The past few days have seen President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), engage in a string of activities concerning the military. He convened a Party leadership study session, calling for modernizing border, coastal and air defense. He wrote back to officers and soldiers of an elite army company with its history dating back to the Red Army days, urging them to strengthen training in real combat conditions. He also made an instruction on veterans' affairs, emphasizing the importance of making military service an honorable occupation and ensuring that ex-service personnel enjoy respect from the whole society. On Thursday, Xi's article on modernizing national defense and the armed forces was published by Qiushi, a flagship Party magazine. In the article, Xi said developing the people's army into a world-class military at a faster pace is a "…

Xi vows to strengthen China's military, stamp out corruption <p>Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Wednesday to strengthen and modernise the military and to stamp out corruption within the ruling Communist Party.</p> <p>Xi underscored the importance of a “strong military” in a speech to political and military leaders as well as Chinese Communist Party members gathered at the Great Hall of the People for the party’s 105th founding anniversary.</p> <p>Analysts have questioned the ability of China’s armed forces to fight effectively since Xi’s sweeping anti-graft campaign gutted its top ranks.</p> <p>Xi’s years-long effort to purge corruption has brought down two defence ministers in the past three years and reduced the once seven-member Central Military Commission — China’s top military body — to just himself and one other general.</p> <p>The Chinese leader on Wednesday swore to “uphold the party’s absolute leadership” over the armed forces and strengthen the military.</p> <p>“We must advance the modernisation of national defence and the armed forces,” Xi told party members.</p> <p>The CCP also has to “resolutely wage the critical, protracted, and comprehensive battle against cor…

China Promotes Military Graft Buster to Top Leadership Post China has promoted its top military anti-corruption chief, General Zhang Shengmin, to be a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the country’s highest military body. The decision was made at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee, which concluded in Beijing on Oct. 23. The plenum also confirmed the expulsion from the party of 14 senior officials for “severe violations of discipline and law,” including former CMC Vice Chairmen He Weidong and Miao Hua, according to a communique released by the Xinhua News Agency. The announcement has formalized one of the most significant shakeup of the country’s military leadership in recent history. Unlock exclusive discountswith a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations. Save an extra $50. Introductory offer for new readers.Subscribe now. Quick Take: Powerful Central Military Commission Downsized More Changes Made to Military Commission We ‘ve added you to our subscriber list. Participation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 5th Eastern Economic Forum Discussed in Moscow Get exposure for your s…

Xi's PLA Purges: An Ideological Reset, Not Just an Anti-Corruption ... Business , International News , News Sun Lee In recent months, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has witnessed another sweeping wave of purges, the latest in a long series of “disciplinary rectifications” under Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Senior commanders across the Rocket Force, equipment departments, and even the Central Military Commission’s political apparatus have been expelled or placed under investigation. Official statements have once again cited “serious violations of discipline and law.” Yet behind the familiar language of anti-corruption lies something more political. The purge at the moment is functioning primarily as an ideological reset of the PLA, intended to reconfigure loyalties, hollow out independent power centres, and ensure that the armed forces remain politically reliable to Xi Jinping and his inner circle. The Ideological Logic Behind the Purges Those removed in the 2024-2025 cycle were not limited to procurement or logistics roles where corruption might naturally occur. They include senior officers such as He Weidong, until recently a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission…