Beijing, February 11 Following an unprecedented purge of the PLA at the highest levels, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised troops at the "grassroots level" for their loyalty to the ruling Communist Party on Wednesday, as he made his first public appearance after the dismissals ahead of the Spring Festival.
Describing the past year as highly unusual and extraordinary, the 72-year-old leader said that the people's armed forces had undergone in-depth political rectification, effectively addressed various risks and challenges, and undergone "a revolutionary transformation" in the fight against corruption.
Officers and soldiers across the armed forces, particularly those at the grassroots level, have been loyal to the Party, faithfully fulfilled their duties, and proven themselves capable and dependable, Xi said in his Spring Festival greetings to the troops via video link, according to official media reports on Wednesday.
Two senior Chinese military officials, including the highest-ranking PLA official General Zhang Youxia, were placed under investigation last month for serious violations of the ruling Communist Party's discipline and laws and for corruption, sending shockwaves through the military ranks.
General Zhang is the Vice Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military headed by Xi.
Zhang's position on the CMC makes him the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Chinese military. His removal and subsequent detention left the seven-member CMC with only two, Xi and General Zhang Shengmin, Secretary of the discipline inspection body, with remaining positions yet to be filled.
A day after Zhang's removal, the PLA Daily said that one of the reasons for placing him under investigation was threatening the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces.
Different reports also cited reasons such as sharing nuclear secrets with the US and core technical data related to China's nuclear weapons program with the US, as well as accepting bribes for promoting officers, which surprised many since Zhang was a close confidant of Xi for years and had assisted the President in sacking several senior generals on charges of corruption.
The charge of threatening the Party's absolute leadership is regarded very seriously, as the Chinese military, unlike other armed forces of the world, functions under the command of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which exercises absolute control over the armed forces.
Also making his first public appearance after the big purge of the military, Xi visited primary-level officials and residents in Beijing during a two-day inspection tour from Monday to Tuesday, extending Spring Festival greetings to Chinese people at home and abroad ahead of the festival, which formally begins on February 17.
Xi wished them good health, career success, and family happiness. He also wished the country peace and prosperity in the Year of the Horse, which marks the end of the Year of the Snake, according to China's lunar calendar.
China will officially shut down for nearly a fortnight to celebrate the New Year.
The inspection marked Xi's first local inspection tour in 2026, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Ever since he took over the leadership in 2012, President Xi, who also heads the party and the military, besides the Presidency, has been emphasising that it is imperative for the military to function under the Party leadership.
The party holds the gun, he has been persistently reminding the military generals, emphasising that they must function under civilian leadership.
In his New Year's message to troops, Xi also asked them to remain vigilant about border security.
"Maintaining combat readiness during holidays is a fine tradition of our armed forces," Xi said, urging the military to stay vigilant and safeguard both national peace and the well-being of the people.