In the final days of June 2025, China's military establishment experienced its most significant internal upheaval in recent history. A sweeping military purge within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has revealed deep fissures at the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party's power structure, suggesting a calculated challenge to Xi Jinping's long-standing control over the armed forces.
At the epicenter of this political earthquake stands General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), who appears to be orchestrating a systematic dismantling of Xi Jinping's military stronghold. According to sources familiar with the situation, the announcement of recent personnel changes triggered immediate panic within the CMC headquarters. One insider described the atmosphere as explosive, stating that "the moment the list came out, half the CMC compound exploded."
This dramatic characterization underscores the unprecedented nature of the current power struggle. What makes this purge particularly significant is that it transcends the typical anti-corruption campaigns that have characterized Chinese military politics in recent years. Instead, it represents a direct counteroffensive against a regime that previously attempted to marginalize Zhang Youxia's influence.
The first major indication of this shifting balance came with the discreet removal of Fang Yongxiang, who served as Xi Jinping's principal military gatekeeper. More telling, however, was the subsequent appointment of Zhou Hongxu as Director of the General Office of the CMC. While this title might appear purely administrative, it commands extraordinary power within China's military hierarchy. This position controls top-level military appointments and oversees the classified daily operations of the CMC, effectively serving as the PLA's central nervous system.
Zhou Hongxu's elevation carries profound implications. Unlike many senior officers who have risen through loyalty to Xi, Zhou built his career under Zhang Youxia's patronage. Both men share a deep professional bond forged during their service in the 40th Division of the 14th Group Army, a unit renowned for its jungle warfare expertise during the 1984 Laoshan campaign against Vietnam. Zhou's specialization in artillery tactics and his subsequent trajectory through the Northern Theater Ground Forces and Central Security Bureau reflect Zhang's guiding hand at every stage.
The appointment signals a fundamental shift: Xi Jinping no longer maintains uncontested control over military operations and personnel decisions.
Simultaneously, another critical development unfolded as the National People's Congress formally removed General Miao Hua from the Central Military Commission. Miao Hua, who previously headed the Political Work Department, had long been considered one of Xi Jinping's most devoted generals. For years, he actively worked to undermine Zhang Youxia's authority while positioning himself as a potential candidate for CMC Vice Chairman.
His removal created a vacuum that Zhang has skillfully exploited. Under mounting pressure during investigations, Miao Hua reportedly surrendered a comprehensive list identifying 90 senior generals—a document that distinguished between those loyal to Xi and those likely to refuse orders during a crisis scenario. This list rapidly circulated through internal channels, amplifying anxiety throughout military circles and providing Zhang with a strategic roadmap for his consolidation of power.
The purge's impact extends across every major branch of the PLA, from the Rocket Force to the various Theater Commands. Officers who built their careers on absolute loyalty to Xi now find their positions increasingly precarious, while those aligned with Zhang's faction receive accelerated promotions and key assignments.
What makes Zhang Youxia's move particularly noteworthy is his own complex history with Xi Jinping. Once considered a trusted ally, Zhang gradually fell out of favor as Xi prioritized loyalty over military competence in his appointments. Rather than accepting marginalization, Zhang appears to have spent years cultivating a network of officers who share his professional military values and his skepticism of Xi's politicization of the PLA.
The current purge represents the culmination of this long-term strategy. By placing Zhou Hongxu in control of the CMC's administrative core, Zhang now commands the machinery of military personnel management. The intelligence contained in Miao Hua's list provides him with the information needed to systematically replace Xi loyalists with officers whose allegiance lies with the military establishment itself rather than any single political leader.
This internal power struggle occurs against a backdrop of mounting challenges for the Chinese leadership. Economic headwinds, demographic pressures, and increasing international scrutiny have already strained the CCP's governance model. A divided military leadership compounds these vulnerabilities, potentially affecting China's decision-making calculus on everything from Taiwan policy to regional territorial disputes.
The implications of Zhang's power grab extend far beyond personnel changes. If successful, it could restore a more traditional civil-military relationship within China, where the PLA serves the party as an institution rather than an individual leader. This would represent a significant departure from Xi's efforts to personalize military authority and create a command structure answerable directly to him.
However, the situation remains fluid and dangerous. Xi Jinping has spent over a decade consolidating power, eliminating rivals, and embedding loyalists throughout the party-state apparatus. He is unlikely to accept this challenge passively. The coming months may witness further purges, counter-purges, or even more dramatic measures as both sides maneuver for ultimate control.
For observers of Chinese politics, the June 2025 military purge offers a rare glimpse into the opaque world of CCP elite competition. It demonstrates that despite Xi's seemingly unassailable position, significant institutional resistance persists within China's most powerful sectors. The military, long considered the ultimate guarantor of CCP rule, now appears to be the site of the most serious challenge to Xi's authority.
The international community must carefully monitor these developments. A PLA commanded by officers selected for professional competence rather than political loyalty may behave differently in crisis situations. While this could potentially reduce the risk of reckless military adventurism, it also introduces uncertainty into an already complex strategic environment.
As this power struggle unfolds, one thing becomes clear: the myth of monolithic CCP control has been shattered. The battle for the PLA's soul will shape not only China's domestic political future but also its role on the global stage for years to come.