Beijing: China has removed two of its most senior military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the country’s state Central Military Commission (CMC), in the latest major shake-up of the country’s top military leadership. The move comes amid President Xi Jinping’s continuing campaign against corruption and alleged violations within the armed forces.
Zhang Youxia, who served as vice-chairman of the CMC and was a member of China’s powerful Politburo, was one of the most senior figures in the People’s Liberation Army. Liu Zhenli was also a member of the CMC and headed its Joint Staff Department.
According to state-run Xinhua, the two generals were removed following investigations into suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Their removal leaves only two active members on what was previously a seven-member state CMC, including President Xi Jinping himself.
The latest action is part of Xi’s years-long anti-corruption campaign in the military. Since coming to power, Xi has repeatedly warned that corruption could weaken the armed forces and undermine military readiness. Dozens of senior military officials and generals have been investigated, removed or otherwise disciplined during the campaign.
The development is particularly significant because Zhang had been regarded as one of the most influential figures in China’s military hierarchy. His position as CMC vice-chairman placed him directly below Xi in the military command structure.
However, Friday’s announcement formally concerns Zhang and Liu’s positions in the state Central Military Commission. China also has a parallel Communist Party CMC, which effectively functions as the country’s supreme military command. The two men had not, at the time of the announcement, been publicly and formally stripped of their positions in the party’s CMC, Reuters reported.
The shake-up also extended beyond the two generals. China’s National People’s Congress removed Zhang and Liu from its updated list of deputies along with 10 other lawmakers. Among those losing their seats were Lieutenant General Zhong Shaojun, former director of the CMC General Office, and General Ju Qiansheng, former commander of the Strategic Support Force.
Separately, China’s top political advisory body removed Zhao Zongqi, a former commander of the Western Theatre Command who served during the 2020 China-India border tensions, from its membership.
The latest purge highlights the continuing turbulence within China’s military leadership and Xi’s determination to tighten discipline at the highest levels of the armed forces. It also places further attention on the concentration of military authority around Xi as Beijing continues its broader campaign to root out corruption and enforce political loyalty within the PLA.
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