China’s government announced the expulsion of two senior military leaders from the Chinese Communist Party, citing violations of political discipline and party loyalty. Zhang Youxia, who held the position of second-in-command at the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member and chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department, were removed on grounds of serious misconduct. According to state media reports, the pair allegedly formed factional groups and demonstrated disloyalty to the party, though specific details regarding their alleged crimes were not disclosed.
Investigations into the two generals commenced earlier this year, with their removal from active military service occurring in late August. Zhang had been widely regarded as one of Xi Jinping’s closest military associates prior to his expulsion. The action represents a continuation of the president’s extensive anti-corruption initiative, which has already resulted in thousands of officials being purged and millions of bureaucrats undergoing investigation.
The military sector has increasingly become a focal point of the government’s corruption crackdowns. Previous purges included the expulsion of Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor in 2024, as well as the dismissal of the second-highest-ranking general and eight additional senior officials more than a year later. These actions have significantly altered the composition of the Central Military Commission, leaving only two active members besides Xi, who serves as chairman of the body, down from its previous seven-member configuration.
The timing of the announcement coincides with preparations for a diplomatic meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump in Washington, as well as an upcoming significant assembly of the Communist Party focused on internal governance matters.
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