China’s PLA faces a storm of internal reckoning. The NPC’s removal of 10 officers on February 26, 2026, just before the pivotal Two Sessions, reveals cracks in military loyalty, per The Diplomat. Projections warn of severe disruptions by 2026 as purges cascade through the ranks.
Victims included five top ex-commanders spanning ground forces, naval operations, air power, and strategic units. Fujian-based 73rd Group Army’s Taiwan specialists and CMC generals were key targets. In PLA politics, NPC demotions often herald investigations or worse.
Ties to purged figures like Zhang Youxia fueled the removals. Admiral Shen Jinlong, a battle-tested navy commander (2017-2021), and political operative Qin Shengxiang shared connections to Zhang’s orbit. Their era saw naval might surge, but loyalty questions prevailed.
Building on 2025 and early 2026 sweeps—including Zhang and Liu Zhenli—these actions breed paranoia. Operational units near Taiwan could suffer most, with eroded trust undermining readiness. Xi’s sweeping anti-graft campaign, ongoing since 2022, prioritizes control but at the cost of military effectiveness, portending prolonged upheaval.