Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli removed from Communist Party and military over alleged disloyalty, corruption and serious disciplinary violations
BEIJING: China has expelled two of its most senior military commanders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the armed forces following investigations into alleged corruption, disloyalty and serious violations of party discipline.
The decision marks a major shake-up at the top of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Zhang, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the Communist Party's Politburo, had been regarded as one of President Xi Jinping's closest military allies. Liu was a member of the CMC and former chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
China's official Xinhua news agency said the two men had been accused of violating political and organizational discipline, forming factions, being disloyal to the Communist Party, accepting large sums of money and abusing their positions. The allegations also included failures to properly supervise relatives and staff.
Investigations Began Earlier This Year
The investigation into Zhang and Liu was announced in January 2026. Both men were subsequently removed from the Central Military Commission in August, before their formal expulsion from the Communist Party and military service was announced on September 21.
According to Xinhua, the cases involve alleged political and economic violations, including corruption, dereliction of duty and abuse of office. Chinese authorities described the alleged sums involved as “particularly huge” and the cases as extremely serious. The cases have been referred to military prosecutors for further legal review.
A Major Blow to China's Military Leadership
Zhang's removal is particularly significant because he was the second-highest-ranking military official after Xi Jinping, who heads the Central Military Commission.
Reuters described the move as the latest and one of the most significant developments in Xi's long-running campaign to tighten discipline and combat corruption within China's military leadership.
The campaign has increasingly focused on senior PLA commanders in recent years, with a series of investigations and dismissals affecting China's defence establishment.
Who Is Zhang Youxia?
Zhang Youxia is a veteran PLA commander who served in the 1979 China-Vietnam War and subsequently held a series of senior military positions.
His career also included a longstanding personal connection with Xi Jinping's family. Zhang's family is associated with Shaanxi, where Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun, was a senior Communist Party official. Zhang was later elevated to the Central Military Commission and became one of the most senior figures in China's defence establishment.
Who Is Liu Zhenli?
Liu Zhenli built his career through China's operational military commands and held several senior positions, including leadership roles in the PLA's ground forces and the Northern Theater Command.
He later moved into China's top military leadership in Beijing, eventually becoming a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of its Joint Staff Department.
What the Move Means for Xi Jinping
The dismissals further reshape China's military leadership at a time when Beijing is seeking to modernize the PLA and strengthen political control over the armed forces.
The official justification is centred on anti-corruption and party discipline. Analysts cited by Reuters have also viewed the accusations of political disloyalty as an unusually serious development because Zhang had previously been regarded as a senior figure close to Xi.
Source: Reuters / Xinhua
