China's Military Hit by Major Personnel Shake-Up

China's military is undergoing sweeping personnel changes that analysts say reflect President Xi Jinping's growing concerns about disloyalty in the ranks. The New York Times reports that Beijing may be facing one of the biggest military leadership crises under Xi.

At a recent parliamentary session, the representation of generals was noticeably smaller than in previous years. Xi has also publicly warned against disloyalty in the military.

Analysts link the shake-up to an ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has claimed a number of senior officers, including former defense ministers, several of whom have received suspended death sentences.

According to experts, Xi is placing increasing emphasis on ideological loyalty to the Communist Party. Some analysts connect this to his concerns about a scenario resembling the collapse of the Soviet Union, when security forces withdrew their support from the regime during the crisis.

(mja)