US EditionNew Military Purge Rocks the CCP
Two top generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, face investigations amid a crackdown that has removed about two dozen senior military officials since 2022, officials said.
- Recently, China's Ministry of National Defense announced the removal and investigation of Zhang Youxia, People's Liberation Army senior general and senior vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli for serious disciplinary violations.
- The anti-corruption campaign, tied to PLA procurement probes, has led Xi Jinping to designate corruption a `major struggle` on January 12, amid systemic issues in the PLA, including promotion fee abuses from around 2007.
- Both generals had appeared in public about a month ago, had few warning signs and were widely seen as personal supporters of Xi with long family ties.
- If dismissed, the seven-member CMC would shrink to two members, leaving only Xi and Zhang Shengmin and materially weakening China's military leadership.
- Historical parallels and expert warnings suggest more purges will erode military readiness, while some analysts say these disruptions make an invasion of Taiwan less likely despite Xi's steady rhetoric.
60 Articles
60 Articles
All is not well in Beijing: How Xi’s grip on power is being tested like never before
For the first time since consolidating absolute authority, Xi Jinping appears politically isolated—presiding over a powerful military stripped of its most experienced generals and a party shaken by fear, purges and mistrust
Unusual Moves in China’s Military: Growing Danger Posed by ‘Xi’s Absolute Control’
Editorial [posttime] JST, [postdate] China has seen a spate of high-ranking military officials fall from grace. What on earth is happening? Instability at the core of one of the world’s leading military powers inevitably raises concerns, as it impacts security in East Asia. China’s Defense Ministry has announced that it would investigate Zhang Youxia, a vice …
China’s military shake-up explained: Why the fall of Zhang Youxia matters
BEIJING, Jan 30 — China has purged top generals before, but the announcement that Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), is being investigated for corruption shocked defence observers.The fall of a high-profile veteran who was seen as close to Xi Jinping shows the extent of the Chinese leader’s military anti-graft campaign and further consolidates his power.Here’s what you need to know:What are the all…
The Gateway Pundit
domigood.comChina Arrests Top General, Why This Purge Is Different
China announced investigations on January 24–25, 2026, into two of the highest-ranking military leaders in the country: General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and the highest-ranking uniformed officer below Xi Jinping, and General Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department.
Watauga Democrat
'Bombshell': What top general's fall means for China's military
China has purged top generals before, but the announcement that Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), is being investigated for corruption shocked defence observers.
Insider Reveals How Zhang Youxia Was Taken From China’s Military Headquarters
The sudden downfall of Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission, has triggered heightened security throughout Beijing, fueling speculation about increasing instability within the Chinese regime’s armed forces. Zhang, one of the highest-ranking officers in the People’s Liberation Army, was officially announced in recent days as being “under investigation,” along with Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military …
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