More than 100 senior Chinese military officers have been removed or gone missing since 2022, including many promoted by Xi Jinping himself. What’s behind the purge, and what does it mean for China’s ability to fight a war?
We examine the PLA’s longstanding corruption problem, from buying promotions to procurement kickbacks, and why Xi keeps targeting his own military leadership. Is he building a more capable force, or creating a command structure too afraid to tell him the truth?
Plus, what the upheaval could mean for Taiwan, the United States, and the future of China’s military.
00:00 – Intro
01:45 – Who got wiped out?
04:52 – What is “corruption” in the PLA?
08:36 – The 1980s – When the PLA ran things
10:44 – Xi’s anti-corruption crackdown
14:10 – Channel updates
Recorded on: September 23, 2026
Written by: David Roza
Edited by: Savvy
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