The replacement of executives could be corruption-related and used by CCP factions to pressure Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to experts.

By Lily Zhou | Contributor Yi Ru | The Epoch Times

In Brief

A sweeping reshuffle of top executives in China’s state-owned military-industrial enterprises has intensified speculation about factional infighting within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as President Xi Jinping faces mounting pressure ahead of critical Party meetings, including the fourth plenary session and the 21st Congress.

Since early 2024, all ten major defense conglomerates have undergone leadership changes, with figures like Wu Yansheng (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.) and Liu Shiquan (Norinco) abruptly removed after being stripped of political advisory roles. Several executives, including CASIC’s Wang Changqing and Yuan Jie, vanished from public view months before their official dismissals, mirroring past disappearances of high-profile officials like ex-Foreign Minister Qin Gang and former Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

Analyst Shen Ming-Shih, of Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense, argues the purge reflects Xi’s vulnerability, with rivals exploiting corruption scandals to weaken his faction ahead of leadership reshuffles.

The CCP’s lack of transparency risks wrongful accusations, fueling internal resistance. Shen warns that suppressed corruption revelations could “seriously undermine military morale,” while emboldened factions may unite to force Xi’s resignation.

According to China affairs commentator, Wang He, the pervasive corruption in the military-industrial complex could also be used by Xi’s detractors as evidence of the CCP leader’s failure.

“If the real extent of the corruption was revealed, it would be too shocking, and seriously undermine the morale of the Chinese military,” he said.

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