Xi Jinping’s ongoing consolidation of authority within the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army continues to shape expectations around further personnel changes in 2026. Recent expulsions of senior military figures, including Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and Joint Staff Department chief Liu Zhenli in September, have been officially tied to disciplinary violations, factionalism, and corruption but are widely viewed as reflecting strategic disagreements over Taiwan contingency planning and personal loyalty. These moves follow years of targeted removals from theater commands and the Rocket Force, leaving multiple CMC seats vacant and prompting questions about leadership depth. Broader anti-corruption enforcement has also extended to financial institutions and networks linked to former officials. The next major party gatherings, including any remaining 2026 plenums ahead of the 2027 congress, could determine whether additional senior officers or civilian cadres face investigation or removal.