Beijing, March 7 (NationPress) The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is experiencing escalating instability in 2026, as investigations into various services and units linked to the events of February 26 are likely to undermine leadership effectiveness and military preparedness, according to a recent report.

The report noted that the purge on February 26 led to the ousting of five high-ranking officers who previously commanded the PLA’s Army, Navy, Air Force, and Information Support Force.

Moreover, two commanders from an operational unit associated with the 73rd Group Army stationed in Fujian Province, which is strategically positioned against Taiwan, along with three Generals affiliated with the Central Military Commission (CMC), were removed from their roles.

As detailed in a prominent international publication, ‘The Diplomat,’ “On February 26, just ahead of the significant annual Two Sessions meetings, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) dismissed 10 PLA officers from their roles as NPC deputies. In accordance with Chinese political norms, such an occurrence typically signals serious issues for those involved.”

“While the NPC did not disclose the reasons for their dismissals, an examination of the backgrounds of these officers indicates that their removal was likely due to ties with previously purged Generals. This suggests that earlier purges have initiated a domino effect within the PLA, causing the downfall of both active and retired officers,” the report stated.

The report further highlighted that the swift increase in investigations may be compromising PLA operational readiness and escalating concerns among the officer corps, with additional officers expected to be implicated in the fallout from the February 26 incidents in the coming months.

“Retired Admiral Shen Jinlong, who held the position of Commander of the PLA Navy (PLAN) from 2017 to 2021, was also stripped of his NPC role along with his political commissar, Admiral Qin Shengxiang. Shen, a career naval officer, began as a squad leader and gained extensive operational experience through his ascent in rank,” the report indicated.

“In contrast, Qin primarily spent his career at the Central Military Commission (CMC) before being appointed as the PLAN political commissar in 2017. Under their leadership, the Chinese navy witnessed significant growth in both fleet size and capabilities. However, their tenures coincided with the rise of Zhang Youxia as CMC vice chairman, who was abruptly purged in late January. These professional and personal connections likely played a role in the dismissals of Shen and Qin,” the analysis noted.

The report emphasized that previous purges, especially those occurring in 2025 and January 2026, are causing a ripple effect throughout the PLA. Additionally, growing insecurity among officers suggests that more military leaders, whether currently active or retired, are at risk of being drawn into the ongoing purge.

“The expanding turmoil is expected to have a detrimental impact on morale and leadership quality in frontline units such as the 73rd Group Army positioned near Taiwan,” it concluded.