Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported on April 3, 2014, that in a rare move Eighteen Generals of the PLA including PLA Air Force Commander and CMC Member General Ma Xiaotian swore allegiance to the Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping. The PLA Daily devoted two full pages on April 2, 2014, to their speeches. All seven Military Region Commanders similarly swore fealty to Xi Jinping a day earlier. Analysts speculate that it reflects the nervousness in the PLA's senior echelons about the anti-corruption drive.

Last month the CMC ordered all military units to hang the inscriptions of five former and current top leaders, including Xi, in their meeting rooms.