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Fact-check: Multiple recent X posts (e.g., from ORF, Geeta Kochhar, MAVERICK) discuss the January 2026 purge of PLA generals including Zhang Youxia, confirming the event and its implications for Xi's control and PLA readiness. Web searches verify the exact War on the Rocks podcast episode and The Diplomat articles on Zhang Youxia's downfall, aligning perfectly with the article's claims.

Power, Paranoia, and the People’s Liberation Army

chinaplaxi-jinpingzhang-youxiamilitary-purgecorruptioncombat-readinessgeopolitics

A podcast episode from War on the Rocks examines the latest round of purges in China's top military leadership, including the removal of Zhang Youxia, raising questions about Xi Jinping's control over the PLA, institutional corruption, and combat readiness. Four analysts with CIA backgrounds discuss the implications for Chinese military effectiveness and Beijing's risk appetite in foreign affairs.

Power, Paranoia, and the People’s Liberation Army

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