Xi Jinping’s high-level military purges can be understood beyond an anti-corruption drive within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Politically, it is aimed at consolidating the foundations for his long-term rule; militarily, it seeks to achieve the PLA’s personnel and organizational restructuring and accelerate military modernization. Over the longer term, Xi’s personal worldview and political ambitions are likely to exert significant influence over the PLA’s policy decisions and operational conduct, thereby increasing regional instability.

Beyond changes in Chinese military capabilities, monitoring and analysis of operational patterns—including leadership reshuffles, shifts in theater-specific training patterns, linked exercises in the Taiwan Strait-East China Sea-West Sea, and political propaganda targeting the military—are essential to discern the intentions of China’s leadership and assess the level of risk posed by the PLA. Given the scope of Chinese military exercises in the West Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, South Korea should share information on personnel, training, and capability changes within the PLA in the ROK-U.S.-Japan security cooperation process. It is also necessary to establish joint mechanisms to assess warning indicators and coordinate crisis management.

This article is an English Summary of Asan Issue Brief (2026-10)

(‘시진핑의 군 고위급 숙청: 정치∙군사적 함의와 시사점’)