The CSIS Database of Chinese Military Purges contains detailed information on 101 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) senior officers who have been purged or potentially purged since 2022. Data is updated through February 20, 2026. Due to limitations in open-source information, the dataset includes only officers at the general/admiral (上将) and lieutenant general/vice admiral (中将) level. This dataset was compiled by the CSIS China Power Project team, with support from Suyash Desai, Feifei Hung, Tao-Hung Chang, and Ryan Liao, as well as Jonathan A. Czin and Allie Matthias of Brookings. Taylor Fravel, Phillip Saunders, and Joel Wuthnow also provided helpful feedback to improve the data. For questions about the data or to flag issues, please contact chinapowercsis@gmail.com.
To explore key findings of the dataset, read our full ChinaPower analysis. You can also read expert commentaries on the broader implications of PLA purges in this CSIS report.
According to CSIS data and analysis, 36 generals and lieutenant generals have been officially purged from China's military since 2022, and another 65 senior officers are missing or potentially purged. View
According to CSIS data and analysis, 36 generals and lieutenant generals have been officially purged from China's military since 2022, and another 65 senior officers are missing or potentially purged.
of the 47 PLA leaders who were generals in 2022 or promoted to three-star positions after 2022, 41 of them (or 87 percent) were purged or potentially purged. View
of the 47 PLA leaders who were generals in 2022 or promoted to three-star positions after 2022, 41 of them (or 87 percent) were purged or potentially purged.
Among 52 key PLA leadership positions examined, only 11 positions (or about 21 percent) are currently filled. View
Among 52 key PLA leadership positions examined, only 11 positions (or about 21 percent) are currently filled.
