All articles tagged with #zhang youxia
China's Communist Party expelled former top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for disloyalty and corruption after a months-long investigation; the Politburo approved the move and it will be ratified by the central committee and handed to military prosecutors, reinforcing Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive and consolidating power ahead of a summit with Trump.
China expelled two senior generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party amid a wide anti-corruption crackdown led by Xi Jinping. Official reports say they violated political discipline, formed factions, and were disloyal; no crimes were detailed. Zhang, formerly vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was seen as Xi’s ally, while Liu was the Joint Staff Department’s chief of staff. Their removal highlights the ongoing military purge and tightening party control ahead of a major party gathering and a U.S. meeting.
RSIS argues that although the purge of CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli is framed as corruption crackdown, the move signals factional reshaping within the PLA, raises questions about military cohesion and combat capability in the near term, and aims to steer civil–military relations and succession planning toward a Xi-centered leadership ahead of the 2027 Party Congress.
Zhang Youxia’s unexpected removal as vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission cuts a key U.S. contact inside Beijing’s top military body and leaves the PLA with fewer veteran voices, potentially complicating crisis decision‑making as Xi Jinping tightens anti‑corruption purges and accelerates military modernization, while Washington seeks to maintain senior‑level channels to avoid miscalculation over Taiwan and other flashpoints.
China’s top general Zhang Youxia, joint vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and CMC staff chief Liu Zhenli are under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, marking a rare purge at the PLA’s upper ranks amid Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive. Reports cited by the Wall Street Journal allege leaks of nuclear information to the U.S. and bribery for promotions, though verification remains limited; analysts say the investigation tests leadership stability even as Beijing continues military modernization and its Taiwan posture.
Xi Jinping’s purge ousts Zhang Youxia, the PLA’s most senior officer, signaling a sweeping overhaul of China’s military leadership and prompting questions about the armed forces’ readiness.
China’s top military official, Zhang Youxia, has been placed under investigation for grave violations of discipline and the law—the most dramatic escalation yet in Xi Jinping’s purge of the PLA, with fellow CMC member Liu Zhenli also under inquiry and most of the 2022 appointees removed, leaving Xi and Zhang Shengmin as the remaining senior commanders.