Frank Rondel
On January 24, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced that Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia, along with Central Military Commission member and Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli, are under formal investigation for “serious disciplinary and legal violations,” confirming prior reports, reports customreceipt.com via Epochtimes.
According to CCTV, both Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were absent from a high-level seminar for provincial and ministerial officials on January 20, as well as its closing ceremony on January 23, fueling speculation about disciplinary action. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun reported on social media that 17 senior generals, including Zhang and Liu, had been detained in a coordinated operation involving the Ministry of Public Security’s special service, the Central Guard Bureau, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, describing the arrests as equivalent to a “high-level military shake-up.”
Further reports indicated that the notification of Zhang and Liu’s detentions was communicated to provincial-level officials the day prior and would be extended to deputy provincial-level officials. Additional unconfirmed sources suggested that family members of Zhang Youxia were also involved in the investigation. Zhang’s absence from scheduled events, including an annual National Defense University activity and ceremonial duties related to the late Deputy Chief of the General Staff Wei Fulin, had drawn particular attention.
Australian independent media outlet reporter Jiang Wang previously claimed that Zhang had been questioned and that both his son and personal secretary, along with Liu Zhenli, were under scrutiny. Taiwanese defense researcher Shen Mingshi stated that internal power struggles within China’s leadership have intensified since the 2024 Third Plenum of the 20th Central Committee, with another potential wave of high-level disputes expected before the March 2026 National People’s Congress sessions. The moves may relate to leadership arrangements ahead of the 21st Party Congress.
Legal scholar Yuan Hongbing warned that the purges highlight deepening distrust within the Chinese Communist Party’s military ranks. The sweeping removals of active generals, including vice-ministerial and major generals, indicate a broader political crisis affecting the military. Yuan emphasized that despite the intention to secure loyalty, newly promoted officers could continue cycles of disloyalty, leaving the Chinese military in a weakened state in 2026.
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