China’s Anti-Corruption Drive Deepens As PLA Air Force Chief, Political Commissar Skip Xi-Led Ceremony
Unexplained absences at a senior military ceremony are adding to uncertainty over the depth and direction of China’s expanding anti-corruption purge within the armed forces. Image courtesy: AI generated pictures via DALL-E
China’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has intensified after two of the Chinese Air Force’s most senior officers failed to appear at a key promotion ceremony presided over by President Xi Jinping, raising fresh questions about the stability of the military’s top leadership.
What was the Xi event that the two PLAAF commanders missed?
State broadcaster CCTV footage from Monday’s (December 22, 2025) ceremony in Beijing showed that General Chang Dingqiu, commander of the PLA Air Force, and Guo Puxiao, the service’s political commissar, were notably absent.
The event, led by Xi in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was held to fill senior command vacancies created by the ongoing purge of top officers.
Who is PLAAF’s General Chang?
Chang, 58, has been widely regarded as a rising star in the PLA, having become one of the youngest officers to reach his rank. He was promoted to Air Force commander in August 2021 at the age of 54, underscoring his rapid ascent.
His sudden disappearance from public view has fueled speculation, especially after his profile on China’s Baidu search engine became inaccessible last week.
Beijing has made no official comment on his status. Chang’s last confirmed public appearance was in October, when he attended the Communist Party’s fourth plenary session as a full member of the Central Committee.
How does the PLAAF generals’ absence indicate a corruption pattern?
The absence of Chang and Guo mirrors earlier disappearances of other senior commanders, including PLA Ground Force chief Li Qiaoming and Navy commander Hu Zhongming, both of whom have been missing from public events for months.
The two were among 17 military officers absent from the October party conclave, according to CCTV footage, despite remaining Central Committee members and not being publicly accused by anti-graft authorities.
Why was the Xi event significant in anti-graft moves?
Monday’s ceremony was the first senior promotion event of its kind this year, signaling efforts by the CMC to plug leadership gaps left by the far-reaching crackdown.
At the event, Xi promoted Yang Zhibin and Han Shengyan, commanders of the Eastern and Central Theatre Commands, to the rank of full general, the PLA’s highest active-duty rank.
How have such military events slowed down over the years?
Senior-level promotions have slowed significantly, with four such ceremonies in 2023 and only three in 2024. Traditionally, all active-duty top generals are expected to attend.
Over the past two years, dozens of senior officers have been purged, including former CMC vice-chairman He Weidong, ex-PLA political chief Miao Hua, and former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, both placed under investigation in 2023.
The continued absences suggest the anti-corruption campaign is still reshaping China’s military power structure.
