Scale of Xi’s military purges could hinder China’s ability to fight, says think tank

(Brad Lendon, Simone McCarthy – CNN) Chinese leader Xi Jinping has taken his purge of the country’s military to the very top, targeting his highest-ranked general in a stunning move last month. But Xi’s shake-up cuts across a much wider swath of his armed forces –– with more than 100 officers potentially ousted since 2022. A new report from a prominent Washington-based think tank reveals just how deeply the anti-corruption drive has reached into the ranks –– and why operationally, that could result in serious unintended consequences for Xi. Thirty-six generals and lieutenant generals have been officially purged since 2022, while another 65 officers are listed as missing or potentially purged, the report published Tuesday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found. The sweeping clear out is part of Xi’s longstanding drive to clean up China’s military as he continues to tighten his grip on power and drives forward a major military modernization. – Xi’s purges of Chinese military run deep, raising questions of readiness, think tank says | CNN