Zhang Youxia Investigation Signals Deep Purge in Chinese Military

Published: 26 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

China’s top-ranking general, Zhang Youxia, is under investigation, the defence ministry confirmed, marking a high-profile development in the ongoing military leadership purge. Zhang, the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, has long been regarded as President Xi Jinping’s closest military ally, making the inquiry a striking signal of intensified anti-corruption efforts. The investigation comes amid reports that Zhang may have leaked nuclear weapons information to foreign powers and accepted bribes for official promotions, although these allegations remain unverified independently.

The ministry also announced that Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department, faces scrutiny for serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang’s prominence as a member of the Communist Party’s politburo, combined with his battlefield experience, underscores the significance of this probe. Analysts suggest that his fall could reshape leadership dynamics within China’s military hierarchy, affecting both strategic decision-making and modernisation projects.

China’s anti-graft campaign targeting the military is not new. Since Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, he has sought to remove corrupt elements from the People’s Liberation Army, with a particular focus on the Rocket Force in 2023. Zhang Youxia’s removal is only the second instance of a sitting CMC general being disciplined since the Cultural Revolution, reflecting the exceptional gravity of the situation. He was last seen publicly in November during talks with Russia’s defence minister in Moscow, and his absence has fueled speculation.

The scrutiny of senior military figures comes as China continues asserting itself in regional territorial disputes. The East China Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait have all witnessed increased Chinese military activity, including the largest exercises around Taiwan conducted late last year. Foreign diplomats and analysts are observing these developments closely, given Zhang Youxia’s influence over the PLA’s operational strategies and modernisation priorities.

Singapore-based security expert James Char commented that while daily military operations may continue normally, the targeting of Zhang Youxia demonstrates Xi’s intent to expand the anti-corruption campaign beyond previously protected senior officers. “Xi has been appointing second-line PLA officers to interim roles vacated by predecessors,” Char noted. “The PLA’s modernisation goals for 2035 and 2049 remain a strategic priority.”

Zhang Youxia’s fall follows the recent expulsion of He Weidong, former vice-chair of the CMC, who was removed in October for corruption, and the ongoing replacement of other top generals implicated in graft. In total, eight senior generals were expelled last year, highlighting the far-reaching scope of the anti-corruption measures. These purges have slowed defence procurement and disrupted revenue streams of major Chinese defence firms.

Born in Beijing, Zhang joined the army in 1968 and quickly rose through the ranks, participating in the brief but intense Vietnam border war in 1979. His performance in combat earned him rapid promotion, and he also took part in subsequent border clashes in 1984. State media have portrayed Zhang as an innovative strategist and a proponent of modernising the PLA’s tactics and weaponry. Analysts believe that his battlefield experience contributed to his advocacy for a well-trained and technologically advanced military.

Despite these credentials, Zhang’s investigation highlights the precariousness of even the most senior figures under Xi’s governance. The focus on senior military leaders signals a potential rebalancing of loyalty and authority within the PLA’s highest echelons. This could influence China’s long-term military posture and its ongoing modernisation programme, which seeks to elevate the armed forces to world-class status by mid-century.

Observers emphasize that the purge may also affect China’s broader defence strategy, with potential delays in procurement and ongoing adjustments to command structures. The removal of Zhang Youxia represents not only a personal fall from grace but also a strategic recalibration that reflects Xi Jinping’s dual goals of loyalty enforcement and military advancement. As investigations continue, the global security community remains attentive to the implications of this unprecedented development within China’s military hierarchy.

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