PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) daily, the PLA Daily, published an editorial on Wednesday claiming that the expulsion of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Chinese armed forces and Communist Party has eliminated a significant political threat. Both former Vice-Chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC) were expelled due to factionalism and disloyalty, according to state media reports on Monday. The CMC, the highest military authority in the country, is chaired by President Xi Jinping.

The PLA Daily emphasized that the punishment of Zhang and Liu represented a major victory in the military's ongoing battle against corruption. The editorial stated that this action would promote the "purity and honor" of the military, enabling it to effectively carry out its missions and tasks. The piece also praised the anti-corruption achievements within the military since President Xi took office in 2012.

The editorial highlighted that the international, national, and party-military situations have been undergoing complex and profound changes. In light of this, it urged the military to align its thinking and actions with the decisions and arrangements of the party's Central Committee and the CMC. The piece called for the military to integrate political rectification into daily operations and make it a regular practice, ensuring that the "gun is always under the party's command" and eradicating corrupt elements entirely.

Additionally, the editorial stressed the importance of strengthening military training, preparing for war, and keeping up with advances in technology, warfare, and adversaries. It encouraged the military to focus on realistic combat-oriented training, enhance combat effectiveness, and advance the development and application of combat forces in new domains and qualities.