China’s President calls for political loyalty among military as anti-graft purge widens

President Xi Jinping calls for enhanced political loyalty in the military amid ongoing anti-graft purges within China's armed forces.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday (March 7, 2026) called on the PLA to enhance political loyalty after the recent purge of the top brass of the military, while a top General called on the defence personnel to resolutely obey the Chinese leader’s command.

Meeting a largely condensed delegation of military officials of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force at the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s Parliament, Mr. Xi stressed fully leveraging the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

He also called for concerted efforts to modernise national defence and the armed forces in a steady, sustained manner.

This is Mr. 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 Mr. Xi himself.

After his removal, the six-member CMC, which is the overall high command of the Chinese military, has been reduced to two: Mr. Xi and Gen Zhang Shengmin, secretary of the discipline inspection body.