China expels two top ‘disloyal’ military leaders from Communist Party
News Source
•Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:56:30 +0000
📰 What Happened
China has expelled two top generals from the Communist Party. State media said Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were removed over corruption and other serious misconduct.
They were accused of forming factions and being disloyal to the party. No details of the alleged crimes were given.
Zhang was once seen as Xi Jinping's closest military ally and served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Liu was a member of that commission and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
🔍 The Backstory
Xi Jinping has run a huge anti-corruption campaign since 2012. Thousands of officials have been punished, and the military has become a growing target.
In June 2024, defence minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor were expelled. Later, China removed its second-highest-ranking general and eight other senior officials from their posts.
The Central Military Commission once had seven members. Now only two remain active, including Xi as chairman. The announcement came days before Xi is due to meet US President Trump in Washington.
🎯 Why It Matters
Removing top generals leaves China's military leadership thin just before a US summit. It shows Xi will not shield even his closest allies if he sees disloyalty.
China has expelled two top generals from the Communist Party. State media said Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were removed over corruption and other serious misconduct.
They were accused of forming factions and being disloyal to the party. No details of the alleged crimes were given.
Zhang was once seen as Xi Jinping's closest military ally and served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Liu was a member of that commission and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
Xi Jinping has run a huge anti-corruption campaign since 2012. Thousands of officials have been punished, and the military has become a growing target.
In June 2024, defence minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor were expelled. Later, China removed its second-highest-ranking general and eight other senior officials from their posts.
The Central Military Commission once had seven members. Now only two remain active, including Xi as chairman. The announcement came days before Xi is due to meet US President Trump in Washington.
Removing top generals leaves China's military leadership thin just before a US summit. It shows Xi will not shield even his closest allies if he sees disloyalty.