Xi’s Silent Purges Tighten the PLA’s Chain of Command
Xi Jinping’s ongoing purges of senior and retiring PLA leaders have left the Central Military Commission unusually hollow, underscoring a Leninist system in which the CCP controls the gun and the military remains loyal to party patrons. Drawing on Xu Qinxian (1989) and Lin Biao (1971), the article argues the PLA has limited capacity to resist and that its dual party-military structure prevents autonomous action. The piece contends purges deter dissent, prevent institutional autonomy, and prepare for external crises by removing potential fifth-column threats, reinforcing Xi’s personal dominance over the armed forces.