In a significant military shake-up, Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently ousted top generals He Weidong and Miao Hua, signaling China’s preparedness for potential conflict. This move, part of a broader restructuring of the Chinese military, aimed at enhancing readiness for combat and rooting out corruption within the ranks. The dismissal of these high-ranking officials follows accusations of serious financial misconduct lodged against nine senior military figures by the Chinese Communist Party.
Subsequent revelations have emerged, showcasing extensive construction activities at a clandestine military installation in northwestern China. Noteworthy developments at the site hint at the establishment of a new subterranean facility possibly designated for nuclear testing.
These strategic maneuvers by China coincide with ongoing changes within the US military under President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. While the White House focuses on what has been dubbed a ‘war on woke generals’, emphasizing political alignments, China’s military restructuring appears more tactically driven. According to security and defense expert Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckingham, the US risks lagging behind China’s military advancements as a result.
Xi’s consolidation of power within the Chinese armed forces, reflected in the removal of key military figures to ensure complete loyalty to the Communist Party, contrasts sharply with the Trump administration’s approach in the US. The expert warns of the potential consequences of these contrasting strategies, highlighting China’s authoritarian advantage in implementing military purges without democratic checks.
China’s nuclear arsenal, currently standing at 600 warheads, pales in comparison to the US and Russia’s stockpiles. However, China’s rapid expansion efforts, adding an average of 100 warheads annually since 2023, underscore its commitment to bolstering its nuclear capabilities.
Recent unveilings of China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, equipped with advanced catapult launch technology akin to the US Navy’s USS Gerald R Ford, showcase China’s naval modernization efforts. This development, alongside the rapid growth of China’s naval fleet under Xi’s leadership, poses a challenge to US maritime dominance and necessitates a response from American allies to maintain strategic parity.