In a massive escalation of military purges, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has placed his highest-ranking general and longtime ally, General Zhang Youxia, under investigation for alleged corruption and “serious violations of discipline”. China’s Ministry of National Defense formally announced on January 24, 2026, that General Zhang Youxia (CMC Vice Chairman) and General Liu Zhenli (Joint Staff Chief) were under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.”
Rumors started when both generals missed high-Level CCP training seminar
Rumors of their downfall began when both men failed to appear at a high-level CCP training seminar for top provincial and ministerial officials.
General Zhang Youxia, as the senior vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was the highest-ranking uniformed officer in China and a close confidant of Xi. General Liu Zhenli, the chief of the Joint Staff Department, was responsible for operations and combat planning.
Of the six generals originally appointed to the CMC in 2022, only one remains: General Zhang Shengmin, a disciplinary chief with little operational experience. Zhang was a combat veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and a “princeling” whose father was a founding general.
Purge evolved from 2023 procurement crackdown to top military hierarchy
What began as a crackdown on corruption in procurement has transformed into a systemic overhaul of the high command. In 2023–2024, the crackdown focused on the PLA Rocket Force and procurement, leading to the ousting of Defense Minister Li Shangfu and roughly 30 other senior figures. In late 2025, it swept through the “Fujian gang,” including Vice Chair He Weidong and Admiral Miao Hua. In January 2026, it reached the very top of the military hierarchy with Zhang Youxia’s investigation.
While official statements cite “serious violations of discipline and law,” reports suggest deeper issues of political noncompliance and distrust. Analysts suggest Zhang Youxia may have clashed with Xi over the timeline for military readiness to invade Taiwan, reportedly favoring a more cautious approach than Xi’s 2027 goal. Unconfirmed reports have linked Zhang to allegations of leaking nuclear secrets to the US
PLA bases on lockdown, western officials lose key contact
Reports emerged that PLA bases across China were ordered into strict lockdown, with all leave cancelled and personnel confined to base for “study sessions” intended to ensure absolute loyalty to Xi.
Western officials expressed deep concern over the removal of General Liu Zhenli, who was their most effective point of contact for managing risks and preventing military miscalculations. While official Chinese statements claim the purge makes the military “stronger and more combat effective,” many international analysts argue it delays any potential invasion of Taiwan by stripping the PLA of its most experienced operational commanders.
According to reporting and expert analysis cited by the Financial Times and other major outlets, Xi Jinping’s purging of General Zhang Youxia is viewed as an aggressive move to centralise absolute control over the military.
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