The Inevitability of Chinese Military Purges

Ongoing military purges under Xi Jinping have seen over 100 senior leaders removed, with the removal of General Zhang Youxia being the most significant. These actions are not attributed to specific transgressions but are presented as an inevitable result of China's political structure. The system's endemic corruption, the "dictator's dilemma" requiring scapegoats, and pervasive elite paranoia make such purges a necessary tool for maintaining control. This cycle prioritizes loyalty over competence, which will likely continue and could degrade the military's operational effectiveness and risk-taking.