China’s sweeping military disciplinary campaign is producing notable gaps across the People’s Liberation Army’s leadership and is likely to have reduced the immediate readiness of its rapidly modernising forces, according to a report released by a leading defence research organisation.
The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), in its annual Military Balance survey of global armed forces, said the purges have touched a broad set of institutions - from the supreme Central Military Commission to theatre commands, weapons procurement and development networks, and defence academia. The IISS warned that, until vacant posts are filled, "the PLA is operating with serious deficiencies in its command structure."
The report follows high-profile disciplinary actions involving two of China’s most senior generals. Zhang Youxia - described by the report as a veteran military ally of President Xi Jinping - was placed under investigation in January, and He Weidong was expelled in October last year. Those moves have dramatically reduced the seven-person body that forms China’s supreme military command to a committee of just two: the CMC chair, Xi himself, and a recently promoted vice chairman, Zhang Shengmin.
The IISS highlighted several pathways through which the crackdown could translate into near-term operational effects. If personnel had been advanced because of connections, if faulty weapons have entered service due to procurement contract problems, or if morale across the force has been eroded, then "the purge is almost certain to have a near-term impact," the report said.
At the same time, the institute characterised these consequences as limited in duration, calling the effects "temporary" and adding that "modernisation is likely to continue apace." The report therefore presents a dual picture: disruption to command and immediate readiness, coupled with an ongoing trajectory of capability development.
As evidence of China’s continued military emphasis, the IISS documented an assertive projection of power across the Indo-Pacific in support of territorial claims and statecraft. The analysis specifically notes increased deployments around Taiwan in 2025 as part of that broader posture.
Xi himself made a rare public acknowledgement of the disciplinary campaign in a virtual address to China’s armed forces earlier this month. "The past year has been unusual and extraordinary," Xi said. "The People’s Army has deepened its political education, effectively addressed various risks and challenges, and undergone revolutionary forging in the fight against corruption."
The report also observed that Chinese defence spending has been rising faster than the rest of Asia at a time when global defence budgets are climbing. The IISS recorded China’s share of regional defence expenditure as growing to almost 44% in 2025, up from an average of 37% during the 2010-2020 period.
Summary
The IISS finds China’s anti-corruption purges have created important command vacancies that are likely to have constrained short-term readiness, even as Beijing accelerates military modernisation and increases defence spending and regional deployments, including around Taiwan in 2025.
Key points
- The purges have reached the CMC, theatre commands, procurement and defence academia, producing leadership gaps and command deficiencies.
- Senior figures Zhang Youxia and He Weidong were placed under investigation and expelled respectively, reducing the seven-person supreme command to two active members.
- China’s military spending share in the region rose to almost 44% in 2025, compared with a 37% average from 2010-2020; deployments around Taiwan are reported to have increased in 2025.
Risks and uncertainties
- Command vacancies could undermine near-term operational readiness - affecting the PLA and defence procurement sectors.
- Procurement contract problems that introduce faulty weapons could impair force capability and impact defence industry suppliers and contractors.
- Wider morale impacts from the purge may reduce operational effectiveness - a risk to forces and organisations supporting training and sustainment.