The recent firing of China's highest ranking military officer, Zhang Youxia, is just the latest example of a decade-long purge from president Xi Jinping against the military. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is one of the few militaries in the world that is designed to protect the ruling party; not the country. However, prior to Xi, the PLA enjoyed a high level of autonomy for decades. Those days are over. Xi is tightening his control over the CCP and the PLA to secure his position. And that is his ultimate goal.