Xi launches sweeping military purge, dismissing record number of generals

 Chinese leader Xi Jinping has launched a sweeping purge of the country’s military leadership, with dismissals reaching levels not seen since Mao Zedong’s era, Bloomberg reported, citing public records and media analysis.

According to Bloomberg, Xi has removed nearly one-fifth of the generals he personally appointed.

On Aug. 10, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese authorities detained senior diplomat Liu Jianchao – once seen as a potential foreign minister – for questioning. He is the highest-ranking diplomat to face detention since former foreign minister Qin Gang, a Xi protégé, was ousted in 2023 amid rumors of an extramarital affair.