General Zhang Shengmin has joined China’s Politburo amid Xi Jinping’s military discipline campaign.
Xi Jinping’s military discipline chief joins the Politburo as Taiwanese officials assess how loyalty investigations could affect war preparations.
General Zhang Shengmin has joined China’s Politburo, extending his rise as the chief enforcer of military purges. He now ranks second only to President Xi Jinping in the country’s military hierarchy.
The promotion came at a Communist Party meeting in Beijing late last month. At the gathering, Xi also endorsed the expulsion of dozens of disgraced officials.
Zhang has overseen Xi’s campaign to discipline the People’s Liberation Army, rising from a low-profile inspector to senior leadership. His elevation suggests investigations and loyalty checks could continue for years, experts and officials said.
Xi seeks officers whose loyalty he considers beyond question. Meanwhile, China’s main military newspaper urged further tough disciplinary measures after the party meeting.
Zhang Shengmin rise draws scrutiny over Taiwan readiness
Three Taiwanese officials believe the loyalty campaign will keep China’s military focused on internal problems. They said that could complicate preparations for a possible war over Taiwan, the self-governing democracy Beijing claims.
The officials spoke anonymously to discuss internal assessments. Their concerns centre on the effects of Xi’s continuing campaign within the military leadership.
However, China’s armed forces have continued to put pressure on Taiwan amid the leadership uncertainty. Dozens of PLA ships conducted unannounced exercises in waters off China’s coast in recent weeks.
Some vessels, including a carrier strike group, remained in those waters, Taiwan’s National Security Council secretary-general Joseph Wu said. He posted the update on X on Thursday.
