The PLA Purge of Zhang Youxia, with Mr Dennis WIlder

from Asia Unlocked · host Asian Studies at Georgetown SFS

Zhang Youxia, PLA General and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, was removed from his post in January 2026, accused of 'serious violations of discipline and law'. What does the purge of Zhang Youxia reveal about power, risk, and military signaling in China? Dennis Wilder, senior fellow at the Initiative for U.S.–China Dialogue and former CIA China analyst, unpacks theories on the purge and explores what this event could mean for the PLA and regional security going forward.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 14, 2026

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The PLA Purge of Zhang Youxia, with Mr Dennis WIlder

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