China has opened an investigation into General Zhang Youxia, one of its highest-ranking military officials, over “serious violations of discipline and law,” according to the country’s defense ministry.
Zhang, 75, is widely regarded as a close ally of President Xi Jinping. While the ministry did not give specifics, such accusations in China are often linked to corruption.
Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, is also under investigation. Their cases follow the expulsion of nine top generals in October, marking one of the largest public crackdowns on the military in decades.
Zhang holds the position of vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Communist Party body that controls China’s armed forces. He also sits on the Politburo, the party’s top 24-person decision-making council.
Zhang comes from a prominent military family, his father was among the founding generals of the Chinese Communist Party and he himself has combat experience, having joined the army in 1968.
Observers noted that Zhang had been allowed to remain in office past the standard retirement age, signaling Xi’s confidence in him making this investigation particularly surprising.
Rumors of disciplinary action surfaced after Zhang and Liu were absent from a major party event in December.
President Xi has carried out repeated anti-corruption campaigns across government and military institutions since coming to power. While supporters argue these initiatives strengthen governance, critics claim they are often used to remove political rivals.
The investigation leaves the CMC significantly reduced in size. From its original seven members, only Xi and Zhang Shengmin, who oversees military discipline, remain.
