Archive · 29 Aug 2026
China Removes Two Generals, Leaving Military Commission With Two
China removed two very senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from an important military decision-making group.
The group is called the Central Military Commission, or CMC.
President Xi Jinping leads it.
Officials said the two men were investigated for serious violations of discipline and law, wording often associated with corruption allegations.
They have not explained exactly what the men are accused of doing.
Their removal leaves only two known active members in a group that previously had seven members.
The move is part of Xi’s long-running campaign against corruption in the military.
Some observers say it could also give Xi more control over military decisions.
Reports differ on Zhang’s later status, with one account saying he was detained in January 2026 while other reports only describe the earlier investigation.
China removed Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the state Central Military Commission.
The National People’s Congress announced the removals on Friday after investigations into alleged violations of discipline and law.
Zhang was the CMC’s vice chairman and a Politburo member; Liu was a CMC member and Joint Staff Department chief.
The formerly seven-member state CMC now has only two known active members: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin.
The generals’ alleged offenses and whereabouts remain undisclosed, while their positions in the Communist Party’s parallel CMC were not publicly revoked.
- Who
- Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were removed from their state Central Military Commission posts.
- What
- China removed the two senior military officers after investigations into suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
- When
- The removals were announced on Friday, after investigations began in January; one report dates the announcement to August 29.
- Where
- The decision was announced by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress.
- Why
- Authorities cited alleged violations of discipline and law; reports connect the action to Xi Jinping’s military anti-corruption campaign.
Anti-Corruption Explanation
Power-Consolidation Interpretation
Reason for the removals
Anti-Corruption Explanation
The action is part of Xi Jinping’s long-running campaign to combat corruption and enforce discipline in the military.
Power-Consolidation Interpretation
Removing senior officers, including Zhang, who was described as close to Xi, may further concentrate authority around the president.
Effect on military leadership
Anti-Corruption Explanation
Removing officials accused of serious violations could support efforts to clean up the armed forces and advance military modernization.
Power-Consolidation Interpretation
Leaving only two known active members in a seven-member CMC could reduce independent senior leadership and strengthen Xi’s control over military decisions.
Extent of the removals
Anti-Corruption Explanation
The National People’s Congress formally removed the generals from their state CMC posts and parliamentary seats.
Power-Consolidation Interpretation
Their status in the Communist Party’s parallel CMC remained publicly unclear, so the full extent of their removal was not disclosed.
- Removed officials
- Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the state CMC, and Liu Zhenli, a state CMC member and Joint Staff Department chief.
- Official allegation
- Chinese authorities said the generals were suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law.
- CMC membership
- The formerly seven-member state CMC has only two known active members: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin.
- Investigation timing
- Authorities announced investigations into Zhang and Liu in January.
- Parallel institutions
- The announcement concerned their state CMC posts; Reuters said they had not been publicly stripped of positions in the Communist Party’s parallel CMC.
- Parliamentary removals
- Zhang and Liu were among 12 National People’s Congress deputies whose seats were removed from an updated list.
- Reported purge figures
- A report citing the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said 36 generals and lieutenant generals had been officially purged since 2022, while 65 others were listed as missing or potentially purged.
Sources
China removes top two military officers from Central Military Commission: Who are they?
China removes two top generals from supreme military command body
China removes ex-top general Zhang Youxia from Central Military Commission after probe
