Chinese President Xi Jinping Ousts Top General on Corruption Allegations

Chinese President Xi Jinping continued his relentless anti-corruption campaign by ousting General Fang Fenghui, the former chairman of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, on January 25, 2026. The move was announced by the Communist Party's Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which is responsible for enforcing party discipline.

According to "The China Show" on Bloomberg, Xi's decision to remove Fang was based on "an ongoing investigation into his activities." Fang, who was also a member of the Central Military Commission, is the most senior military figure to be targeted in Xi's campaign against graft within the military.

This purge comes just a few months after Xi removed General Guo Boxiong, another member of the Central Military Commission, and the former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission's Central Military Commission for Discipline Inspection, on charges of bribery and other offenses.

Xi's anti-corruption campaign, which was launched in late 2012, has seen the removal of numerous high-ranking officials, including influential politicians, high-profile business executives, and military leaders. The campaign is seen as an effort to consolidate power within the Communist Party and to restore public trust in the government.

The purges have also raised concerns about the stability of China's political and military institutions. Some analysts suggest that the campaign could lead to a power struggle within the party, while others believe that it could strengthen Xi's position as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong.

Despite the concerns, Xi's anti-corruption campaign has enjoyed widespread support among the Chinese public. A survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences found that 88% of respondents believed that the campaign was necessary to maintain social stability.

The removal of Fang Fenghui is likely to send a strong message to other military leaders and to the wider Chinese population that no one is immune from Xi's campaign against graft. It also underscores Xi's determination to root out corruption and to restore public trust in the Communist Party and its institutions.

Bloomberg reported that Fang's removal was "the latest in a series of high-profile purges of military leaders," and that Xi's "campaign against graft is seen as a key element of his efforts to strengthen his control over the Chinese military."

In a statement, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission said that Fang had been "disciplined for serious violations of laws and party discipline," without providing further details. Fang, who has a military career spanning over 40 years, was also a member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party and the 12th National People's Congress.

The purge of Fang Fenghui is a significant development in Xi's anti-corruption campaign, and it underscores the determination of the Chinese leader to root out corruption and to restore public trust in the Communist Party and its institutions.

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