China Investigates Top Military Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli in Significant Purge

Investigations Announced by Defense Ministry

China's Ministry of National Defense announced on January 24, 2026, that two prominent generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, are under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline and law'. Both generals held influential positions on the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest decision-making body of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Key Figures in China's Military Leadership

General Zhang Youxia served as the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, placing him second only to President Xi Jinping in the military command structure. He was also a member of the elite Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. Zhang was previously considered a close ally of President Xi, having been retained in his leadership role past the normal retirement age. General Liu Zhenli held the critical position of Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. His role involved overseeing the PLA's joint operations, training, and combat readiness, leading some observers to describe him as the PLA's operational 'brain'. Liu was also known as a key interlocutor for Western militaries.

Allegations and Official Commentary

While the Ministry of National Defense cited 'serious violations of discipline and law' as the reason for the investigations, specific details have been limited. However, the People's Liberation Army Daily, the official military newspaper, published an editorial stating that Zhang and Liu had 'severely trampled on and undermined the CMC Chairman responsibility system' and 'seriously betrayed the trust and expectations' of the Communist Party and the CMC. The editorial further accused them of 'fostering political and corruption problems that undermined the party's absolute leadership over the military and threatened the party's ruling foundation'. Unconfirmed reports from The Wall Street Journal suggested that Zhang Youxia was accused of leaking information about China's nuclear weapons program to the United States and accepting bribes for official acts, including the promotion of an officer to defense minister. The PLA Daily also indicated that the investigations aim to 'remove obstacles and stumbling blocks that hinder the development of our cause' and eliminate 'watered-down parts of combat capability building'.

Broader Implications and Context

The investigations into Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are widely regarded as a significant purge within the Chinese military, with some analysts calling it the 'highest-ranking purge of PLA generals since the 1971 Lin Biao incident'. This event has drastically altered the composition of the Central Military Commission, effectively reducing its active membership from seven to just two: President Xi Jinping and General Zhang Shengmin. This move is seen as a continuation of President Xi Jinping's extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted various levels of the Chinese Communist Party and the military since he came to power in 2012. The campaign intensified in 2023 with purges within the elite Rocket Force. Analysts suggest that these investigations are not solely about corruption but also serve as a 'blatant political security operation' designed to ensure 'absolute loyalty' to Xi Jinping. While consolidating Xi's control over the military, these purges have also raised concerns among international observers regarding potential isolation within the leadership and the risk of military miscalculations, particularly given the removal of experienced operational commanders like Liu Zhenli.