Xi Jinping’s zero-fail mission for China’s military: total loyalty, no corruption
Chinese President's 'zero-fail' mission follows investigation of top general, shrinking military delegation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reinforced a strict ideological line for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), demanding 'zero-fail' in achieving total loyalty to the Communist Party and eradicating corruption. Speaking to military and armed police lawmakers at the National People's Congress (NPC), Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), stated there must be 'no room' for disloyalty or shelter for corrupt individuals. This directive follows the recent investigation of the country's top general and is part of a broader 'political rectification' campaign that Xi claims has achieved 'significant results' with 'unprecedented resolve' since 2012.
The anti-corruption drive has significantly reshaped the military's political landscape, claiming a slew of top generals and defence industry bosses over the past decade. A tangible reflection of this purge is the shrinking delegation of PLA deputies to the NPC, which has decreased from 281 members in 2023 to 243 this year. Xi's call to 'comprehensively strengthen' party leadership over the military underscores a continued effort to consolidate control and ideological purity within the armed forces, ensuring the PLA remains an unwavering instrument of the party's authority.
- Xi Jinping issued a 'zero-fail' directive demanding absolute PLA loyalty and no shelter for corruption.
- The order follows the investigation of China's top general, part of a decade-long anti-corruption purge.
- The PLA's delegation to the National People's Congress has shrunk from 281 to 243 members, reflecting the purge's impact.
Why It Matters
Consolidates Xi's control over the military, impacting China's internal political stability and military governance.