Chinese Military Faces Political Turmoil Amid Leadership Feud

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s powerful military arm under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is reportedly embroiled in political turmoil amid growing discontent over President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power.

Tensions surfaced earlier this month when the PLA’s Central Theater Command (CTC) released a politically charged article on social media, advocating for collective leadership, democratic centralism, and decision-making through group discussions. The post notably omitted references to Xi or terms reinforcing his centralized authority, such as the “Two Establishes” and the “Two Upholds.”

The post included a photo from a study session held by the 83rd Group Army, showcasing a political slogan advocating shared decision-making over power concentration. This slogan directly challenges Xi’s tight grip on power, established since he took charge of the CCP in 2012.

The study session reportedly reviewed themes discussed during the June Political Work Conference of the Central Military Commission (CMC), chaired by Xi himself. While Xi emphasized centralized leadership, the announcement from that conference omitted phrases reinforcing his power, hinting at underlying dissent.

The article gained widespread attention, sparking debates about whether collective leadership and democratic centralism were quietly championed within the military. The PLA Daily, the official publication of the CMC, added to the discourse with commentaries endorsing collective leadership and intraparty democracy, even quoting Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong to criticize the excessive concentration of power.

The commentary’s timing and content indicate a pushback against Xi’s centralized authority, raising questions about growing ideological rifts within the PLA.

The turmoil comes amid Xi’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has seen the suspension of high-ranking military officials, including CMC member Miao Hua, for alleged disciplinary violations. Analysts speculate that Miao’s suspension could be linked to dissenting views aired during the CMC conference.

While the political discord appears confined to ideological debates for now, concerns are mounting over its potential impact on military operations and broader institutions in China.

Observers believe this internal power struggle could mark the beginning of a pivotal shift within China’s leadership system, with its ramifications potentially becoming evident in the coming year.

Input from Different Outlet and Broadsheet.