The purge of two top generals has intensified speculation that Xi is confronting powerful factions long embedded in the CCP.China’s military officers stand in front of a window before a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Aug. 16, 2016. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/AFP via Getty Images1/25/2026|Updated: 1/25/2026News analysisThe sudden downfall of two of China’s most senior military leaders has fueled speculation that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is entering a decisive—and potentially destabilizing—phase of internal power consolidation.Michael Zhuang is a contributor to The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics.Author’s Selected Articles
Xi Jinpings Military Purge Signals a High-Stakes Battle Inside Chinas Elite Circle
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