What China’s new PLA leaders reveal about Xi’s unfinished military rebuild

Lower-ranking officers have taken over key roles within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) amid a controversial anti-corruption campaign led by President Xi Jinping, according to analysts. While newly promoted full generals have assumed responsibility for critical commands, many other senior positions remain unfilled or occupied by acting or unconfirmed officers.

This situation suggests that Xi Jinping is still cautious about granting permanent appointments and full ranks to many potential candidates, raising concerns about the stability of the military leadership. The reliance on acting or unconfirmed leaders also indicates a narrower pool of trusted officers and uncertainty over who will ultimately survive the transition.

Despite the turbulence, the PLA has managed to maintain day-to-day continuity by elevating experienced insiders, such as newly promoted full generals taking charge of key commands. However, Beijing's approach appears to be a cautious one, with only two active members currently holding positions within the seven-member Central Military Commission (CMC), with Xi Jinping serving as chairman and vice-chairman Zhang Shengmin.

The recent reshuffling follows several years of anti-corruption purges that have reached the highest ranks of the PLA. Several high-ranking officials, such as Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, He Weidong, Miao Hua, Li Shangfu, have been placed under investigation or expelled from both the Communist Party and the military. These purges have left several senior posts vacant or unsettled, with up to 20 key PLA positions reassigned following the purges.

While analysts acknowledge that the PLA is restoring day-to-day command and organizational continuity, they caution that Xi Jinping remains cautious about granting many of the potential successors permanent appointments, full ranks, and the institutional authority that comes with formal confirmation.