Xi Jinping, the President of China, in a fresh and unprecedented move, dismissed several senior commanders of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from their positions. This military purge, known as a comprehensive cleansing, includes the dismissal of all theater commanders and senior naval officials in China.
Dimensions of Xi Jinping's Actions
Xi Jinping's recent action is part of the planning to retake Taiwan by 2027, the centenary of the PLA. This date also coincides with Xi's fourth term as the head of the Communist Party of China. In the fifth plenum of the Communist Party of China recently held in Beijing, the purges were discussed as one of the main topics, and Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of "Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building."
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Details of the Dismissals
According to received information, in this military purge, all theater commanders, including naval and missile forces commanders in China, have been dismissed. Among the dismissed officials are General He Weidong, the director of strategic planning for operations against Taiwan, and Admiral Wang Hubin, the commander of the PLA missile forces. Additionally, two other key admirals, Miao Hua and Yuan Huazhe, were also removed from their positions.
These dismissals come at a time when Xi Jinping is seeking to strengthen political control and prevent any political threats to his power. Other dismissed officials include General Li Hanjun, the former commander of the PLA Navy, and General Lin Xiangyang, the commander of the Eastern Theater, which directly faces Taiwan.
Analysts believe that this action could be seen as an effort to eliminate any threats to Xi Jinping's leadership ahead of his fourth term. The recent dismissals were due to the formation of "political groups" and administrative fraud among military commanders. This cleansing indicates that Xi is deeply concerned about the loyalty of his commanders and the potential formation of power circles that oppose him.
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