Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, framed as a drive for political loyalty and discipline within the Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army, continues to shape expectations for further purges in 2026. Recent months have seen high-profile removals of senior military figures, including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, Joint Staff Department chief Liu Zhenli, and multiple PLA Navy admirals and Eastern Theater Command officers, with official announcements citing disciplinary violations and corruption. These actions follow earlier waves that have affected over 100 PLA generals since 2022, often targeting networks associated with the Fujian faction or officers viewed as cautious on Taiwan policy. Xi’s October speech calling to “uproot sick trees” ahead of the fifth plenum of the 20th Central Committee, scheduled for late October, signals sustained momentum, while probes into retired officials such as Huang Qifan illustrate the campaign’s reach beyond active duty. Traders monitor these patterns, plenum outcomes, and any shifts in military command vacancies for signals of additional targets.