China promotes two new generals following the extensive anti-corruption purge of the military

Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted Zhang Shuguang and Wang Gang to the rank of general on July 3, 2026, following a sweeping anti-corruption purge that thinned the military's top ranks. The crackdown, which saw two former defense ministers sentenced to death in May 2026, had reduced the seven-member Central Military Commission to just two active members. While the promotions aim to ensure absolute loyalty to the Communist Party, experts note the purges may temporarily hinder military readiness.

New general promotions

• ▪Zhang Shuguang was named the head of the division investigating corruption at the Central Military Commission, replacing Zhang Shengmin as the military's top anti-graft watchdog
• ▪Wang Gang was appointed as the commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
• ▪Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted Zhang Shuguang and air force commander Wang Gang to the rank of general at a ceremony on Friday, July 3, 2026

Military anti-corruption campaign

• ▪President Xi Jinping launched a major campaign to root out corruption in the Chinese armed forces in 2023, removing scores of senior officials
• ▪The Chinese government sent senior military officers to an intensive 10-week political retraining course in early 2026

Death sentences for former ministers

• ▪Former Chinese defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were handed death sentences in May 2026 for bribery convictions
• ▪Wei Fenghe was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li Shangfu was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes

Central Military Commission vacancies

• ▪The seven-member Central Military Commission was effectively reduced to two active members, Chairman Xi Jinping and Vice Chair Zhang Shengmin, due to corruption investigations
• ▪A new Central Military Commission is expected to be announced in the fall of 2027 at the end of the current commission's five-year term

Impact on military readiness

• ▪The military purge is believed to be an effort to ensure the military's loyalty to the Communist Party and Xi Jinping as China seeks to modernize its armed forces
• ▪Experts suggest that purging senior commanders is likely to hurt the Chinese military's readiness in the near term, a risk Xi Jinping appears willing to accept