Treason, coup plots and corruption: Behind Xi’s military purge

2026-01-28

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Xi Jinping has just sacked his top military general – putting him under investigation and accusing him of “grave violations of discipline and the law”. It’s the latest, and most stunning sacking in a massive purge of the country’s military and political elite. With China’s People's Liberation Army in crisis – there are now questions about what it will mean for China’s plans to take over Taiwan. Today, expert in US-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School and author of several books on China, Rana Mitter on what the sackings say about Xi’s grip on power.

Xi Jinping has just sacked his top military general – putting him under investigation and accusing him of “grave violations of discipline and the law”.

It’s the latest, and most stunning sacking in a massive purge of the country’s military and political elite.

With China’s People's Liberation Army in crisis – there are now questions about what it will mean for China’s plans to take over Taiwan.

Today, expert in US-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School and author of several books on China, Rana Mitter on what the sackings say about Xi’s grip on power.

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Guest: Expert in US-Asia Relations at Harvard Kennedy School, Rana Mitter

Photo: AP Photo/Andy Wong

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