Xi Jinping vows stronger military and renewed anti-corruption drive in Beijing speech

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a stronger and more modern military while renewing his pledge to fight corruption inside the ruling Communist Party. He made the remarks in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People during a speech marking the 105th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. The address placed military readiness, party discipline and political control over the armed forces at the centre of his message.

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Xi told party and military leaders that China must uphold the party's absolute leadership over the armed forces. He said the country must advance the modernisation of national defence and the armed forces, and he described the anti-corruption campaign as a critical and prolonged struggle. The speech came after a recent anti-graft purge that has affected the top ranks of the military.

The campaign has already had major consequences for China's defence leadership. According to the supplied material, two defence ministers have been removed in the past three years, and the Central Military Commission has been reduced from seven members to just Xi and one other general. Analysts have questioned the armed forces' ability to fight effectively after the purge, which has reshaped the senior command structure.

The remarks matter because they link military modernisation with political loyalty at a time when Beijing is trying to tighten control over one of its most sensitive institutions. The Central Military Commission, which Xi heads, is the top military body in China and plays a central role in command, discipline and strategic direction. The speech also underlined that anti-corruption efforts remain part of the leadership's broader effort to consolidate authority inside the party and the armed forces.

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Xi also repeated his position on Taiwan, saying that resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete reunification remains an unswerving historical mission of the party. He urged China to oppose interference by external forces, although he did not name any countries. The inclusion of Taiwan in the speech shows that military and political messaging remain closely linked in Beijing's current security posture.

What remains unclear is how far the latest anti-corruption drive will go and whether further changes will follow in the military leadership. The supplied material does not indicate any new personnel announcements from the speech itself. What to watch next is whether the Central Military Commission's new discipline measures are followed by additional removals, promotions or structural changes in the armed forces.

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