Make every penny count for combat, China’s military told in countdown to Lunar New Year

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Alcott WeiFebruary 13, 2026 at 04:00 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

In a Lunar New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to enhance combat readiness and training. This directive follows an anti-corruption drive that exposed vulnerabilities within the military and led to the investigation of high-ranking officials, including Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, for corruption. The investigations, which began in 2023, have resulted in the dismissal of 18 generals and the absence of at least 16 more from key meetings. Beijing accused Zhang and Liu of damaging the military's combat effectiveness. Xi emphasized the need for the PLA to address funding loopholes and rectify flaws revealed by the anti-corruption efforts.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Beijing ×250% CCTV 50% Lunar New Year ×260% Central Military Commission (CMC) ×260% Liu Zhenli ×260% Zhang Youxia ×270% China ×270% Xi Jinping ×280% People's Liberation Army (PLA) ×390%

Keywords

military 90% combat readiness 80% anti-corruption 80% pla 70% funding loopholes 60% generals 50% combat training 50% political rectification 50% lunar new year 40%