PLA Daily Commentary on Purge of Zhang Youxia & Liu Zhenli: 'Special Tempering' Underway; 'Diseased Trees' Being Uprooted; & New-Era Officers to Take Charge

***Corrected the earlier oversight in classification of the PLA Daily piece from editorial to commentary.

Two reports from the People’s Daily and the PLA Daily that I want to cover today. It’s been quite the month with the ouster of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, with rumours and speculation all around. In that context, it is important to note that the January Politburo meeting took place on Friday. I’ll cover what the Politburo discussed later, but first I want to turn to the PLA Daily .

There was a front-page commentary and the purge of Zhang and Liu today at the top of the page. My takeaways:

I think this is an extremely important article, telling us about the anxieties within the system around the purge of two of the senior-most officials, and what’s the line of thinking going ahead. The first paragraph calls on everyone to support the decision on Zhang and Liu, which implies that there is clearly some discord around the decision. There was a similar call for support for the decision when Miao Hua and He Weidong were purged. But some of the language here on shedding feathers and rebirth is new. That is indicative of the central leadership signalling that a new crop of people are now on the cusp of taking charge of the PLA. In some sense, the old guard is now done away with. This is more vividly stated later through language like “the faster the speed of removing the rot, the faster the speed of generating new flesh.”

At the same time, there’s a clear warning that this turn towards the new does not mean that there’s going to be an easing of the anti-corruption campaign within the PLA. The message that the Party will investigate cases through the entire chain regardless of how many people are involved and it will dig as deep as the connection goes.” This is quite the stark warning, which is likely to generate significant unease among the folks who have risen under Zhang’s patronage.

Another rather candid statement is the acknowledgement that things are not great within the PLA in general. This comes across in the following bit:

“Currently, although we must face some short-term difficulties and pains, it is necessary to more deeply recognise that the fundamental principle and system of the Party’s absolute leadership over the military is playing a decisive role, and the strategic design, path arrangements, and target tasks for advancing toward world-class status have already become the entire military’s shared understanding and common action.”

This text underscores that there is serious discomfort within the PLA with what’s taken place with the anti-corruption struggle, and in terms of capability development. The text seems to be saying that while the purges have been disruptive, we’re still on the trajectory of military development, with the centre playing its role and the vision, plan and targets firmly in mind.

Finally, towards the end, we are explicitly being told that the new generation that is now going to take charge of the PLA are going to be the real Xi Jinping guys. For instance, the text says: “This army of ours, which marched forth from the Nanchang city walls and was forged in the flames of war, is currently undergoing a special kind of tempering, just like removing impurities when refining steel, this is re-strengthening, re-purifying, re-casting, and re-cohering.” The so-called “diseased trees have been precisely uprooted” and unhealthy practices have been resolutely washed away” and taking charge going ahead will be “new-era officers and soldiers who have grown up nurtured by Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military are trustworthy and reliable, admirable and respectable.”

Anyway, here’s a full breakdown of the article.

It says:

“The Party Central Committee has decided to place on file for disciplinary review and investigation Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for the suspected serious violations of discipline and law. The resolute investigation and handling of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli is a major achievement in comprehensively strictly governing the Party and a major victory in the anti-corruption struggle. It is an important manifestation of the Party and the military having determination and strength, and is of great significance for promoting the PLA to uproot the sources of pernicious influence/lingering poison (拔除流毒根源) and to achieve a shedding of feathers and rebirth (换羽重生). All officers and soldiers of the entire military must resolutely support the Party Central Committee’s decision, maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in thought, politics, and action, they must fully recognise the bright prospects of the anti-corruption struggle, and firmly believe in the certainty of victory in the fight against corruption and the success of strengthening the military. 党中央决定，对张又侠、刘振立涉嫌严重违纪违法问题立案审查调查。坚决查处张又侠、刘振立，是全面从严治党的重大成果、反腐败斗争的重大胜利，是党和军队有决心、有力量的重要体现，对于推动人民军队拔除流毒根源、实现换羽重生，具有重要意义。全军官兵要坚决拥护党中央决定，在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，充分认清反腐败斗争的光明前景，坚定反腐必胜、强军必成的信念信心.

Corruption is the greatest threat facing our Party, and anti-corruption is the most thorough self-revolution. The anti-corruption struggle concerns the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, concerns the nature and purpose of the PLA, and concerns the long-term peace and stability of the Party and country. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has upheld comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and comprehensive and strict governance of the military, advanced political rectification and training with the spirit of rectification campaigns, resolutely and forcefully cleansing pernicious influence, punishing corruption, and eliminating accumulated malpractices, thereby rescuing, reshaping, and developing the PLA in the new era. The placing of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli on file for disciplinary review and investigation once again demonstrates the clear stance of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance in anti-corruption. It is a resolute struggle to eliminate major political hidden dangers (重大政治隐患), a heavy plow and deep tilling (重犁深耕) to eradicate the soil and conditions that breed corruption, and a powerful push to fight and win the tough battle of realising the centenary goal of the PLA. Practice fully proves that the more the PLA fights corruption, the stronger, purer, and more combat-capable it becomes; the faster the speed of removing the rot, the faster the speed of generating new flesh, and the more reliable the guarantee for the development of the cause of strengthening the military. 腐败是我们党面临的最大威胁，反腐败是最彻底的自我革命。反腐败斗争关系党对军队的绝对领导，关系人民军队性质宗旨，关系党和国家长治久安。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持全面从严治党、全面从严治军，以整风精神推进政治整训，坚决有力肃流毒、惩贪腐、除积弊，在新时代挽救、重塑、发展了人民军队。这次对张又侠、刘振立立案审查调查，再次表明了反腐败无禁区、全覆盖、零容忍的鲜明态度，是消除重大政治隐患的坚决斗争，是铲除腐败滋生土壤和条件的重犁深耕，是打好实现建军一百年奋斗目标攻坚战的强力推动。实践充分证明，人民军队越反腐就越坚强、越纯洁、越有战斗力；去腐的速度越快，生肌的速度就越快，强军事业发展就越有可靠保证.

The PLA does not tolerate corruption; this mighty and civilised force (威武文明之师) will not be defiled. Corrupt elements cannot in the slightest represent this heroic PLA with its glorious traditions; they will eventually be nailed forever to history’s pillar of shame. The deep digging and thorough investigation of Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, and others proves with irrefutable facts that no matter how high one’s position or how great one’s power, all are equal before Party discipline and state law; as long as one engages in corruption, there will be absolutely no leniency; for those who lack a sense of awe and test the law by denying it, we will investigate as many as are involved and dig as deep as the connection goes. Military Party members and cadres, especially leading cadres, must at all times maintain a sense of awe in their hearts, must not harbour a sense of luck or chance, still less fail to restrain themselves or know when to stop. They must firmly remember the truth that ‘if the hand is stretched out, it will surely be caught’; they must take the lead in obeying discipline and law, be strict with themselves, and earnestly answer the basic questions of why one joins the Party, why one becomes a soldier, and why one becomes a general. They must diligently brush away the ‘ideological dust’, meditate often on the ‘harm of greed’, and constantly break the ‘thief in the heart’, so as to build a solid foundation of faith, replenish the ‘spiritual calcium’, and steady the ‘rudder of thought’.”人民军队不容腐败，威武文明之师不容玷污。腐败分子丝毫不能代表我们这支有着光荣传统的英雄人民军队，他们终将被永远钉在历史的耻辱柱上。对张又侠、刘振立等人的深挖彻查，以无可辩驳的事实证明，不管职务多高、权力多大，在党纪国法面前一律平等，只要搞腐败就决不姑息，对那些不知敬畏、以身试法的，涉及多少查多少，牵扯多深挖多深。军队党员干部特别是领导干部要始终心存敬畏，不要心存侥幸，甚至不收敛不知止，必须牢记“手莫伸，伸手必被捉”的道理，带头遵纪守法、严于律己，切实回答好入党干什么、当兵干什么、为将干什么等基本问题，勤掸“思想尘”、多思“贪欲害”、常破“心中贼”，筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵.

Unwaveringly advancing the military’s anti-corruption struggle is the trend of the times and what the military’s heart desires. Resolutely investigating and handling corrupt elements allows us to increasingly see clearly the determination and will of the Party and military for self-purification, self-perfection, self-renewal, and self-improvement; see the military body continuously becoming purer and the political ecology continuously becoming cleaner, showcasing a new atmosphere and new appearance; and more powerfully ignite the high-spirited fighting will of officers and soldiers to storm the fortifications of the PLA centenary and forge ahead toward becoming world-class and strong force. Currently, although we must face some short-term difficulties and pains, it is necessary to more deeply recognise that the fundamental principle and system of the Party’s absolute leadership over the military is playing a decisive role, and the strategic design, path arrangements, and target tasks for advancing toward world-class status have already become the entire military’s shared understanding and common action. Overcoming difficulties and experiencing pains will inevitably bring about rebirth; the PLA will inevitably be reshaped and opened anew in revolutionary tempering, and better win the historical initiative in building a strong military and revitalising the military.” 坚定不移推进军队反腐败斗争是大势所趋、军心所向。坚决查处腐败分子，让我们越来越清楚地看到党和军队自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高的决心意志，看到军队肌体不断纯洁、政治生态不断纯净的新风新貌，更加有力焕发官兵攻坚建军百年、奋进强军一流的昂扬斗志。当前，尽管要面对一些短期的困难和阵痛，但更要深刻认识到，党对军队绝对领导的根本原则和制度在发挥着决定性作用，迈向一流的战略设计、路径安排、目标任务已经成为全军共识共为。战胜困难、历经阵痛必将换来新生，人民军队必将在革命性锻造中重塑开新，更好赢得强军兴军历史主动.

The fight against corruption will surely succeed, and strengthening the military will certainly be accomplished. This army of ours, which marched forth from the Nanchang city walls and was forged in the flames of war, is currently undergoing a special kind of tempering, just like removing impurities when refining steel, this is re-strengthening, re-purifying, re-casting, and re-cohering. At this important historical juncture for strengthening and rejuvenating the military, timely clearing away of hidden malignant tumors and latent dangers paves the way for clearing mines and breaking through obstacles for strengthening the military soul and winning victories in battle. The ‘diseased trees’ have been precisely uprooted, unhealthy practices have been resolutely washed away, and the political ecology of the troops is becoming more pure, and the new atmosphere of upright spirit is becoming more abundant. In recent years, from the accelerated commissioning of advanced national defense equipment to ensure the formation of powerful military forces, to major exercises and drills tempering warfighting capabilities and deterring powerful adversaries, and further to advancing against the current in times of danger to set out on missions and safeguard the people’s interests, this has fully proven that the new-era officers and soldiers who have grown up nurtured by Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military are trustworthy and reliable, admirable and respectable (可信可靠、可爱可敬), and that the People’s Army has always been a heroic force in which the Party and the people can place complete trust. 反腐必胜，强军必成。我们这支从南昌城头走来、在战火中锻造的军队，正在经历一场特殊的淬火，如同炼钢时剔除杂质，这是再强化、再提纯、再熔铸、再凝聚。在强军兴军的重要历史当口，及时把隐藏的毒瘤隐患清除掉，为强固军魂、胜战打赢排雷破障，“病树”被精准拔除，歪风被坚决涤荡，部队政治生态更加纯正、新风正气更加充盈。这些年，从大国重器加速列装、汇聚钢铁洪流，到重大演训锤炼打仗能力、震慑强敌对手，再到危难面前逆行出征、守护人民利益，充分证明在习近平强军思想哺育下成长起来的新时代官兵可信可靠、可爱可敬，人民军队始终是党和人民完全可以信赖的英雄部队.

The prospects for strengthening the country and strengthening the military are bright and inspiring. The entire military must persist in taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, deeply implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, fully carry out the strategy for politically-building the military in the new era, uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the PLA, deeply grasp the decisive significance of the two establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses, enhance the four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards, implement the Chairman Responsibility System of the CMC, resolutely obey Chairman Xi’s command, be responsible to Chairman Xi, and set Chairman Xi’s mind at ease. It is necessary to deeply advance political rectification and training, correct unhealthy tendencies, enforce strict discipline and fight corruption, carry forward the thorough spirit of self-revolution, vigorously restore and promote the glorious traditions and fine work styles of our Party and our military, persist in opposing all corruption, eliminating all greed, and eradicating evil thoroughly, and unwaveringly carry the military’s anti-corruption struggle through to the end. It is necessary, in accordance with the new ‘three-step’ strategy for national defense and military modernisation, deeply advance political construction of the military, reform and strengthen the military, strengthen the military through science and technology, strengthen the military through talent, and govern the military according to law; while engaging in struggle, preparing for war, and carrying out construction, we must accelerate the development of advanced combat capabilities, promote the modernisation of military governance, consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities, and strive unremittingly to realize on schedule the centenary goal of building the military and accelerate the transformation of the PLA into a world-class force.” 强国强军前景光明、催人奋进。全军要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻习近平强军思想，全面贯彻新时代政治建军方略，坚持党对人民军队绝对领导，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，坚决听习主席指挥、对习主席负责、让习主席放心。要深入推进政治整训、正风肃纪反腐，发扬彻底的自我革命精神，大力恢复和弘扬我党我军光荣传统和优良作风，坚持有腐必反、有贪必肃、除恶务尽，坚定不移把军队反腐败斗争进行到底。要按照国防和军队现代化新“三步走”战略，深入推进政治建军、改革强军、科技强军、人才强军、依法治军，边斗争、边备战、边建设，加快先进战斗力建设，推进军事治理现代化，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力，为如期实现建军一百年奋斗目标、加快把人民军队建成世界一流军队不懈奋斗.

Now, let’s look at the Politburo meeting. The report says that the meeting “reviewed a report from the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau on its hearing and discussion of work reports from the leading Party members groups of the top legislature, central government, top political advisory body, supreme court, and supreme procuratorate, as well as the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.”

Xi Jinping presided over the meeting. The report says:

“The meeting fully affirmed the work of the Party Groups of the NPCSC, the State Council, CPPCC NC, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, as well as the Secretariat of the Central Committee, in 2025, and approved their work arrangements for 2026. The meeting held that over the past year, the five Party Groups have adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly upheld the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralised and unified leadership, conscientiously implemented the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and all subsequent plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, closely focused on the overall work of the Party and the state in performing their functions and roles, and effectively strengthened their own construction, making positive contributions to the smooth completion of the main targets and tasks for the year and the successful conclusion of the 14th FYP.

Under the leadership of the Politburo and its Standing Committee, the Secretariat of the Central Committee conscientiously implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, actively fulfilled its duties and responsibilities, and carried out a large amount of work in areas such as completing tasks assigned by the Party Central Committee, strengthening the building of intra-Party regulatory and institutional systems, providing guidance and impetus to mass organizations’ work, and rectifying formalism to reduce burdens at the grassroots level. 会议对全国人大常委会、国务院、全国政协、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院党组和中央书记处2025年的工作给予充分肯定，同意其2026年工作安排。会议认为，过去一年，5家党组坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，认真贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届历次全会精神，紧紧围绕党和国家工作大局发挥职能作用，切实加强党组自身建设，为全年主要目标任务顺利完成、“十四五”圆满收官作出积极贡献。中央书记处在中央政治局、中央政治局常委会领导下，认真贯彻党中央决策部署，积极履职尽责，在完成党中央交办任务、加强党内法规制度建设、指导推动群团工作、整治形式主义为基层减负等方面做了大量工作.

The meeting emphasised that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the beginning of the 15th FYP period. The five Party groups must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, uphold the centraliSed and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and conscientiously implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee and the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee regarding this year’s work. They must adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, focus on the major strategic tasks for economic and social development during the 15th FYP period, and strive to achieve a good start. They must strengthen their own Party group construction, earnestly fulfill their primary responsibility for strict and comprehensive Party governance, and take the lead in establishing and practicing a correct view of performance. The Central Secretariat should focus on implementing key tasks based on the deployments and requirements of the Politburo and PBSC, and complete all tasks assigned by the Party Central Committee with high quality. 会议强调，今年是中国共产党成立105周年，是“十五五”开局之年。5家党组要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚持党中央集中统一领导，不折不扣把党的二十届四中全会精神和党中央关于今年工作的决策部署落到实处。坚持稳中求进工作总基调，锚定“十五五”时期经济社会发展重大战略任务，努力实现良好开局。加强党组自身建设，认真履行全面从严治党主体责任，带头树立和践行正确政绩观。中央书记处要围绕中央政治局、中央政治局常委会部署要求，立足职责抓好重点任务落实，高质量完成党中央交办的各项任务.

“The meeting also discussed other matters.” 会议还研究了其他事项