The purge of China’s military structures has claimed another senior official, as President Xi Jinping continues to consolidate control over the People’s Liberation Army.
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After seven months out of the public eye, General Zhang Youxia has officially been removed from the Central Military Commission. Until recently, he was regarded as one of Xi Jinping’s closest allies.
Zhang, 76, was considered the most powerful military officer in the People’s Liberation Army. His relationship with the Chinese president was also personal: the two had known each other since their teenage years and, according to sources, Xi respectfully called him “big brother.”
In January, the Ministry of Defense announced that Zhang Youxia and another senior general, Liu Zhenli, were being investigated for “serious violations of discipline and the law.” Both have now officially been removed from their posts, a move analysts regard as the preliminary stage of a judicial process and possible punishment.
Since taking power in 2012, Xi Jinping has removed at least 110 senior officers from the military. Around 60 of them have been eliminated from the military structures since 2024 alone. Although most have been officially accused of corruption, in Zhang and Liu’s case the accusations appear to carry greater political weight.
China’s military press has blamed both generals for “seriously damaging the president’s authority” and weakening the army’s loyalty to the Communist Party. In essence, these accusations could be interpreted as a form of high treason.
Some American analysts believe Zhang Youxia may have opposed plans to use force against Taiwan, having judged that China might not be able to withstand a military response from the United States.
With his removal, the Central Military Commission, which initially had seven members, now consists only of Xi Jinping and General Zhang Shengmin, who is responsible for combating corruption.
