Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) top leadership has reached a dramatic new peak with the investigation of General Zhang Youxia, once considered untouchable due to his close ties with Xi and deep military experience.
On January 24, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that General Zhang Youxia, senior vice‑chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC) the body that oversees the PLA is under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.” The statement did not disclose specific allegations.
Zhang, 75, had been viewed as one of Xi’s most trusted military allies and was notable for his combat background, including service in border clashes with Vietnam in 1979 rare among China’s current senior officers. His position placed him just below Xi in the military hierarchy and made him a central figure in PLA leadership.
Alongside Zhang, General Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, is also being investigated. Both men hold seats on the Communist Party’s Politburo, underscoring the political weight of the move.
The purge has now engulfed nearly the entire top tier of China’s military leadership, with only one other uniformed member of the CMC still in place. Analysts say this represents one of the most sweeping military overhauls since the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s, surpassing previous disruptions in scale and scope.
Observers note that the campaign, officially framed as an anti‑corruption drive, may also serve to reinforce Xi’s control over the military as China faces rising regional tensions and strategic challenges. Critics have raised concerns about potential impacts on operational readiness and institutional stability within the PLA.
The investigations follow earlier high‑profile dismissals and disciplinary actions within the army’s leadership and signal Xi’s willingness to sideline even long‑standing allies to maintain unchallenged authority over China’s armed forces.