The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has appointed General Zhang Shengmin, a veteran military official known for his anti-corruption work, as the second-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) making him the third most powerful figure in China’s military hierarchy after President Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia.
The announcement came at the conclusion of a four-day Central Committee meeting, just days after nine generals were expelled from the party in what analysts describe as one of the largest military purges in decades.
According to China’s Defense Ministry, the dismissed generals were suspected of “serious financial crimes.” However, political observers believe the move also reflects an ongoing political cleanup within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aimed at tightening Xi Jinping’s control over the armed forces.
For months, the CMC has signaled an impending shake-up. In July, it released new directives targeting the removal of “toxic influence” within the military and outlining “iron rules” for officers – language widely interpreted as a warning of internal corruption and factionalism.
Zhang, 67, is a career officer from the PLA Rocket Force and has served as deputy secretary of the CMC’s anti-corruption arm. Hailing from China’s central province of Shaanxi, he joined the army in 1978 and has long been viewed as a trusted Xi loyalist with a record of enforcing discipline within the ranks.
The latest reshuffle follows earlier removals of senior military figures, including former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, underscoring Beijing’s deepening efforts to reassert political loyalty and financial integrity across the armed forces.
During the same Central Committee session, the CCP also approved a new five-year plan focused on “scientific and technological self-reliance,” a push that comes amid U.S. restrictions on advanced chip and software exports. The document further emphasizes “accelerating the green transition,” “modernizing national defense,” and “boosting domestic consumption” to offset slowing export revenues amid mounting global uncertainty.
The developments mark a pivotal moment for China’s leadership, as the country seeks to consolidate political control, curb corruption, and adapt to shifting geopolitical and economic realities.
