Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again sent shockwaves through the country’s political and military establishment by placing one of China’s most powerful military figures under investigation, underscoring that no one—no matter how senior or influential—is beyond the reach of his sweeping anti-corruption and loyalty purge.
Zhang Youxia, joint vice-chairperson of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the ruling body of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has been placed under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law,” according to an announcement by the Chinese Ministry of National Defence (MND) on January 24. Zhang was the second-highest-ranking officer in the PLA command structure after Xi Jinping himself, who chairs the CMC.
Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, has also been placed under investigation, signalling that the purge extends beyond a single figure and may be aimed at dismantling a broader network of influence within the military’s upper echelons.
The following day, a strongly worded editorial in the PLA’s official publication accused Zhang and Liu of having “seriously betrayed the trust and expectations” of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the CMC. The editorial further alleged that the two leaders “fostered political and corruption problems that undermined the party’s absolute leadership over the military and threatened the party’s ruling foundation.”
However, the Defence Ministry stopped short of revealing the specific charges that led to their downfall, leaving analysts to piece together clues from state media messaging, foreign reporting, and long-standing internal power dynamics within China’s ruling system.
Among the most explosive claims is a report by the Wall Street Journal suggesting that Zhang Youxia may have been accused of sharing sensitive technical information about China’s nuclear weapons program with the United States. The same report also alleged that Zhang attempted to build an independent power base within the CMC—an unforgivable offence in a system where absolute loyalty to Xi is paramount.
Beijing has not confirmed these allegations, and Chinese officials have dismissed foreign reporting as speculation. Yet the severity of the accusations, combined with the dramatic public denunciation by PLA media, suggests that Zhang’s fall from grace was driven as much by political considerations as by corruption concerns.
Zhang’s removal has dramatically reshaped the top military leadership structure. With his dismissal, the CMC is now effectively reduced to just two members: Xi Jinping and General Zhang Shengmin, a political officer elevated to vice chairman in October 2025. Zhang Shengmin’s career background as a discipline inspector underscores the priority Xi places on ideological control and internal policing over operational military experience.
A Fall That Few Expected
Zhang Youxia’s downfall has stunned observers precisely because he was long viewed as one of Xi’s closest allies. Like Xi, Zhang is a “princeling”—the son of a revolutionary leader who fought in China’s civil war. Their families shared deep historical ties, and Zhang was widely seen as part of Xi’s inner circle of trusted confidants.
For years, Zhang was considered untouchable. His sudden disappearance from public view after November 2025, when he missed major events such as the fourth plenary meeting of the CMC, had already fuelled speculation that something was amiss. But few expected that his absence would culminate in such a dramatic purge.
Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, a leading China scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told EurAsian Times that the allegations surrounding nuclear secrets may simply be a pretext to justify political action against Zhang.
“The accusations about the transfer of nuclear secrets appear to be an eyewash meant to legitimise the leadership’s actions,” Kondapalli said, noting that Zhang’s disappearance from public events had already indicated trouble within the ranks.
The Party Must Command the Gun
The deeper significance of Zhang’s purge lies in China’s long-standing doctrine of civil-military relations, rooted in Mao Zedong’s famous dictum that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.” Mao also famously declared that “the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party.”
Xi Jinping, who has steadily centralised power since taking office in 2012, has revived this principle with renewed intensity. The investigation into Zhang and Liu signals that even the most senior military leaders are not immune if they are perceived to pose a threat to the Party’s control over the armed forces—or to Xi personally.
The message is unmistakable: loyalty matters as much as competence, and political obedience outweighs institutional stability.
Impact on the PLA’s Modernisation Drive
The timing of the purge could hardly be more sensitive. Xi has set ambitious goals for the PLA to become a “world-class military” by 2027, coinciding with the PLA’s centenary. By 2049, China aims to achieve the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” transforming into a global superpower with unmatched military and economic influence.
Yet the removal of top commanders raises serious questions about the stability and cohesion of China’s military leadership at a time when Beijing is accelerating preparations for potential conflict scenarios, including a Taiwan contingency.
Professor Kondapalli argues that the immediate tactical impact may be limited due to reforms introduced in 2015, which decentralised command through the creation of Theatre Commands.
“The authority of the CMC was diminished considerably after the establishment of Theatre Commands. The removal of the CMC’s leaders does not shake things up drastically at the tactical level because the troops are prepared and under a sound command and control structure,” he said.
However, he warned that such purges inevitably damage morale across the PLA. “There will not be an immediate effect of the purging, but it does damage the morale of the troops.”
Indeed, repeated removals of senior officers create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, potentially discouraging initiative and slowing decision-making—critical weaknesses for a military aspiring to challenge the United States.
The purge has reignited debate over whether China’s military can realistically execute complex operations, such as a large-scale amphibious invasion of Taiwan, while grappling with internal instability.
“How does China plan on seizing Taiwan and challenging a superpower like the US if it is unable to keep its own house in order?” one analyst asked rhetorically.
While Xi’s campaign is framed as an effort to root out corruption and strengthen discipline, critics argue that it has increasingly become a tool for consolidating personal power and eliminating potential rivals.
Since late 2023, the campaign has intensified dramatically. Several senior generals and defence industry executives have vanished from public view, often reappearing months later as subjects of corruption investigations.
The PLA Rocket Force (PLARF), which oversees China’s strategic missile arsenal, has been a particular focus. More than 20 senior military officials have reportedly been investigated or removed since 2023, reflecting concerns that corruption may be undermining China’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
The crackdown reached a peak between 2024 and 2025, with multiple high-ranking figures disappearing amid rumours of corruption probes. In October 2025, the Ministry of National Defence announced the expulsion of nine senior officers, including General He Weidong, another vice chairman of the CMC and one of the PLA’s top uniformed leaders.
They were accused of “serious violations of Party discipline” and “duty-related crimes” involving “extremely large amounts of money,” with the consequences described as “extremely serious and detrimental.”
The scale of these purges suggests systemic problems within the PLA’s procurement and promotion systems, where loyalty networks and financial misconduct may have become deeply entrenched.
Xi’s defenders argue that the purge is necessary to ensure the PLA is capable of fighting and winning wars. Corruption, they say, undermines military readiness, distorts procurement, and erodes discipline.
But analysts warn that the relentless focus on loyalty over experience could ultimately weaken China’s military effectiveness. The removal of seasoned commanders and defence officials creates gaps in institutional knowledge and disrupts ongoing weapons programs.
“Although the campaign aims to enhance long-term effectiveness by rooting out graft and ensuring political loyalty, it has instead introduced delays and resource inefficiencies within the PLA,” one defence analyst noted.
At the same time, few believe the purges will fundamentally derail China’s military rise. The PLA remains a massive, well-funded force with a rapidly expanding arsenal of advanced weapons systems. The disruptions may slow progress, but they are unlikely to stop it.
The purge of Zhang Youxia sends a clear signal that Xi’s authority is absolute. Even trusted allies and revolutionary peers can fall if they are perceived as threats to the Party’s control—or to Xi’s dominance.
The campaign also serves as a warning to others within the military and the Communist Party: loyalty must be unquestioned, and personal power bases will not be tolerated.
Ultimately, the downfall of one of China’s most powerful generals reflects not just an anti-corruption drive, but a deeper struggle to maintain control over a rapidly modernising military in an era of intensifying global competition.
Whether this strategy strengthens China or exposes its vulnerabilities remains an open question. But one thing is clear: under Xi Jinping, the hammer can fall on anyone.
