Xi’s military purge may set back his Taiwan ambitions

China’s leader, Xi Jinping, has ousted top generals — including Gen. Zhang Youxia, placed under investigation last week — a purge that secured his control of the military but left a hollowed-out command structure, according to a New York Times analysis published Jan. 29, 2026. The removal of General Zhang and another senior commander, Gen.

Liu Zhenli, both accused of “grave violations of discipline and the law,” complicates Mr. Xi’s goal to modernize the People’s Liberation Army by a 2027 milestone and, some American intelligence officials say, to gain the capacity to invade Taiwan. Dozens of generals and admirals have been detained or disappeared in recent years, and experts say the reshuffles have temporarily reduced the risk of the Chinese Communist Party launching a major war.

Kou Chien-wen of National Chengchi University said the purges “have temporarily reduced the risks” and warned Mr. Xi may become an increasingly isolated figure. Analysts noted Mr. Xi now has virtual carte blanche to appoint a new cohort of commanders but will probably need years to nurture officers he trusts.

John Culver, a former CIA analyst, said Mr. Xi has “wiped the table clean,” and that the turmoil already appears to be slowing military momentum — some annual public exercises seem to have been postponed, he wrote. General Zhang had been a close ally of Mr. Xi, retained past retirement age and promoted to vice chairman of the Central Military Commission; publicly he defended Mr.

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