Xi Jinping Purges Top General to Cement Absolute Control Over PLA

• China's top military commander, Gen. Zhang Youxia, was sidelined in a purge, signaling Xi's move to consolidate power.
• Xi Jinping invokes Mao's Yan'an legacy, emphasizing ideological discipline and loyalty within the party and armed forces.
• Five of six generals on China's Central Military Commission have been removed or sidelined in three years.
• The anti-corruption campaign, described as 'uprooting sick trees,' aims to ensure the military is 'reforged and reformed'.
• Analysts suggest Xi uses Mao-era tactics, fostering fear and uncertainty, and reinforcing loyalty through ideological indoctrination.