BEIJING — Chinese authorities have confirmed investigations into two of the most senior uniformed leaders of the People’s Liberation Army, marking another escalation in a years-long campaign that has repeatedly removed high-ranking military officials under the banner of discipline and anti-corruption.
A notice released Friday by state media confirmed that Zhang Youxia, the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and the country’s most senior uniformed officer, along with Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, have been placed under investigation following deliberations by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee.
The announcement followed days of speculation after Zhang failed to appear at the opening ceremony of the Central Party School in Beijing, an absence that drew attention given his position just below Xi Jinping in the military hierarchy. Until this move, Zhang had been widely viewed as one of the most powerful figures in China’s armed forces, with authority reflected in official seating arrangements and leadership rosters at major state events.
State disclosures said both men are suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law,” a phrase that carries specific meaning within the Communist Party system. Unlike criminal suspicion in Western legal frameworks, the designation signals that an internal political determination has already been made. In prior cases, the same language has preceded expulsion from the Party, loss of military rank, and in some instances criminal prosecution at a later stage.
Zhang, 75, has served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and is a member of the Politburo, placing him at the core of China’s military and political command structure. Liu, 61, oversees combat planning, command support, readiness, and joint training across China’s theater commands, positioning him at the operational heart of PLA force deployment.
Both men held key responsibilities during a period of heightened military activity, including intensified air and naval operations near Taiwan. Under current leadership, the PLA has maintained an elevated operational tempo across multiple regions, with sustained exercises and readiness drills designed to project deterrence and test joint command capabilities.
While Chinese authorities have not disclosed the specific nature of the alleged violations, past purges suggest that charges framed as corruption often intersect with broader concerns about loyalty, control, and alignment with central leadership priorities. Analysts observing previous removals note that the timing and seniority of those targeted frequently point to political recalibration rather than routine law-enforcement action.
Since taking power, Xi has overseen repeated removals of senior military figures, including multiple former CMC vice chairmen and commanders across strategic branches. These actions have been presented publicly as efforts to clean up entrenched corruption within the PLA, though the pattern has also consolidated central control over the armed forces.
Investigations and disciplinary actions in such cases are conducted by Party oversight bodies rather than independent courts, and proceedings are typically opaque. Outcomes are often announced months or years after initial disclosures, with limited public detail regarding evidence or internal deliberations.
The investigations into Zhang and Liu represent one of the most significant leadership disruptions within the PLA in recent years, reaching into the highest levels of military command. As the process unfolds, the removals reinforce a continuing trend in which senior authority within China’s armed forces remains subject to abrupt reversal, driven by internal Party discipline rather than transparent judicial review.
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“While Chinese authorities have not disclosed the specific nature of the alleged violations, past purges suggest that charges framed as corruption often intersect with broader concerns about loyalty, control, and alignment with central leadership priorities. Analysts observing previous removals note that the timing and seniority of those targeted frequently point to political recalibration rather than routine law-enforcement action.”
This type of thing is right out of the old playbook. What else would we expect from a “Socialist with Chinese Characteristics” defined country that officially identifies as Marxist-Leninist? As one progresses up the ranks in China it is a wonder that many of the top officials aren’t paranoid, or perhaps some are to the degree that it causes slipups that don’t appear good to their leader. It is such an ungodly type of government that who knows what really goes on behind the curtain.
May God be with the citizens of that country.
Thank you for this article. It reminds me of a song on an album I have from the 80s’:
A billion hearts are beating
Far across the water
China
And when the sun is shining
Their land is cloaked in darkness
China
Silent eyes watching the western world
Guarded hearts hidden like precious pearls
Who can reach you, China
All the ancient wisdom
Passed down through the ages
China
Still has left you thirsting
For something that can heal you
China
Laboring under the crimson hand
Countless wheels turning at each command
Praying for you, China
Some recall the story
Told by distant strangers
China
Whispered like a rumor
The King of Hearts is coming
China
Hands of love knock at your mighty wall
All your tears Jesus has felt them fall
He’s calling to you, China
Praying for you, China
Who can reach you, China
Thank you for sharing that, Chris. The song reflects a distinction that’s important to keep clear — between a governing system and the people living under it.
Systems built on opaque power structures often generate fear and self-preservation at the highest levels, especially where loyalty and control outweigh transparency. The historical pattern you’re pointing to is exactly why these purges are best understood as political recalibration rather than routine accountability. What happens behind closed doors is rarely visible to the public, and that uncertainty is part of how authority is maintained. At the same time, it’s always the citizens who carry the weight of that instability. I appreciate you engaging so deeply with the article and sharing that reflection. Thank you very much, Chris. I hope all is well and I hope you have a great night. 😎
You’re welcome, John, and thank you for this reflective reply.
“…these purges are best understood as political recalibration rather than routine accountability.”
Who would want to live under a system like that? You answered this question with another sentence:
“…it’s always the citizens who carry the weight of that instability.”
In short, the only ones who want a system like this are the ones at the top until a realignment is “necessary.”
Thank you again for the interesting post, John. All is well, thank you. I hope the same for you and your family and I wish you a great night! 🙂