Sir Keir Starmer is among a number of middle-power leaders travelling to Beijing to renew relations, but the most significant news from the Chinese capital in recent days was Xi Jinping's removal of the country's top general, Zhang Youxia. The purge underscores the concentration of power in the hands of a few, with potential dangers for global stability.
Zhang Youxia, who had rare combat experience from the Vietnam War and impressed US counterparts, was ousted along with another senior military leader, Liu Zhenli. Chinese media reported they had 'seriously trampled on and undermined the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the CMC chairman', indicating the real offence was political. Xi has now whittled the Central Military Commission down to just himself and the armed forces' anti-corruption chief.
The purge is part of a broader campaign that has seen Xi topple officials at all levels, including potential heirs, brush aside term limits, and foster a personality cult. Analysts warn that the thinning out of expertise and silencing of dissent could lead to overconfidence and misunderstandings, particularly in military matters. One concern is that turmoil in the People's Liberation Army may hinder basic relations with the US military, as direct military-to-military channels remain cut off since 2022.
While attention has focused on Chinese intentions towards Taiwan, a greater danger may be an unanticipated event, like the 2001 collision between a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet. De-escalation mechanisms are essential. When strongmen like Xi are surrounded by sycophants, the risks to everyone grow. In contrast, even with Donald Trump's attacks on checks on his power, he still faces dissent from a free press and legislature—something unthinkable in Xi's China.
