Beijing: Absence of Two Top Air Force Generals from Xi Jinping Event Fuels Purge Speculation
Beijing – December 25, 2025 (BNN Web Staff)–
The conspicuous absence of two senior Chinese air force commanders from a high-profile military promotion ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping has sparked fresh speculation about an intensifying anti-corruption purge within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
State television footage of Monday’s event – held to fill vacant high-level posts – showed no sign of General Chang Dingqiu, former commander of the PLA Air Force, and General Guo Puxiao, a key deputy. This marks the latest in a string of mysterious disappearances among China’s military elite, coming months after the unexplained vanishing of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who was replaced without explanation.
A Pattern of Silent Removals
The Chinese military has offered no comment on the generals’ whereabouts, maintaining its characteristic opacity. However, Chang Dingqiu – long viewed as a rising star – has seen his profile vanish from Baidu, China’s dominant search engine, in recent weeks.
At just 58, Chang was considered one of the youngest and fastest-rising officers in PLA history:
- Promoted to air force commander in August 2021 at age 54 – the youngest in decades.
- Widely tipped for even higher roles within Xi’s modernized military.
His sudden absence aligns with Xi Jinping’s relentless anti-corruption drive, which has toppled dozens of senior officers over the past two years as the president tightens personal control over the armed forces.
Xi’s Iron Grip on the PLA
Since taking power, Xi has made military loyalty a cornerstone of his rule. The ongoing purge – framed as rooting out graft – has ensnared figures across ranks, including rocket force commanders and even cabinet-level defense ministers. Critics abroad see it as a tool to eliminate potential rivals and ensure absolute allegiance ahead of sensitive political transitions.
No official charges have been announced against Chang or Guo, but their non-appearance at a ceremony presided over by Xi himself is widely interpreted in diplomatic circles as confirmation of investigations.
As China projects military strength amid tensions with Taiwan and the U.S., these internal upheavals raise questions about stability at the top of the world’s largest standing army. For now, Beijing’s silence only amplifies the intrigue.
