Washington, Jan 28 (NationPress) As China gears up for the 'Two Sessions' scheduled in March, marking the nation’s most significant annual political event, it anticipates new appointments with pivotal positions likely to be filled by loyalists handpicked by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, these fresh appointments do not disguise the reality that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aspires to emerge as a world-class military in the forthcoming years, facing immediate hurdles, as noted in a report released on Wednesday.

“On January 20, 2026, during a high-stakes study session for China’s top provincial and ministerial officials, an obvious empty chair caught attention. Official reports covertly mentioned that “both” Vice-Chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC) were present, yet the footage revealed a different narrative. General Zhang Youxia, the PLA’s second-in-command, was notably absent,” detailed a report from the US-based magazine, The National Interest.

“Just four days later, the situation escalated. China’s Ministry of National Defence confirmed that Zhang, along with CMC member and Chief of Joint Staff Liu Zhenli, was under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law.’ While Beijing has a history of military corruption and political indiscipline, Zhang’s case is significantly more explosive than the usual,” the report added.

According to the findings, these purges are resulting in a leadership vacuum within the PLA, with a minimum of 14 out of 81 generals promoted by Xi since October 2022 being dismissed, and an additional 23 having vanished.

“This creates a ‘Schrodinger’s general' dilemma, where officers who are theoretically in command have either disappeared from public sight or are paralyzed by the fear of being the next in line. Coupled with the swift turnover of commanders in the Northern, Southern, and Central Theatres, as well as across services like the PLA Army, Air Force, and Rocket Force, this is likely to undermine morale and stability within the command structure,” it stated.

The report emphasized that Zhang’s vast networks are likely to face scrutiny. Officials from China's Northern Theatre Commander Huang Ming and Southern Theater Commander Wu Yanan, who previously collaborated with Zhang in the old Shenyang Military Region, are under close observation.

“Officials such as Fan Yonxiang, Director of the CMC General Office, also collaborated with Zhang during his tenure as Head of the PLA General Armaments Department in 2015. While these networks merit deeper investigation, Xi’s strategy seems to revolve around eliminating anyone who was ever affiliated with Zhang’s patronage or retaining experienced personnel within the military,” it noted.

The report further asserted, “Instead, Xi now leads a high command consumed by paranoia, where war planning takes a backseat to political survival. Flybys around Taiwan, or skirmishes with the Philippines in the South China Sea, will persist. However, while Xi has caged the tigers, he must hope that he hasn’t declawed the dragon in the process.”