Archive · 22 Sep 2026
China Expels Top General Zhang Youxia in Military Purge
China removed one of its most senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia, from the Communist Party and the military.
Liu Zhenli, another senior military official, was removed too.
Officials said the two men broke political and legal rules.
Zhang was also accused of building factions and helping people receive promotions in exchange for bribes.
He had been an important military leader during tensions between China and India in 2020.
He was involved in China’s military planning during the Galwan Valley clash.
The removals are part of a major change in China’s military leadership.
Only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin remain from the original seven-member military commission.
General Zhang Youxia was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and the military.
Former CMC Joint Staff Department chief Liu Zhenli was expelled alongside Zhang.
Both men were investigated for alleged serious violations of discipline and law.
Zhang was accused of faction-building, disloyalty, bribery-related promotion assistance, and misconduct by associates.
The purge leaves Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin as the only active members of the original seven-member CMC.
- Who
- General Zhang Youxia and former CMC Joint Staff Department chief Liu Zhenli were removed; Xi Jinping remains the top leader of the military commission.
- What
- Zhang was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and the military, while Liu was expelled alongside him.
- When
- The two men were investigated on January 24 and stripped of state CMC titles in August; the article does not specify the final expulsion date.
- Where
- China’s Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army leadership.
- Why
- Authorities cited serious violations of discipline and law, political disloyalty, faction-building, and alleged bribery-related misconduct.
- Former position
- Zhang Youxia was first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
- Co-expelled official
- Liu Zhenli, former chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department.
- Investigation
- Both officials were placed under investigation on January 24 for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
- Galwan role
- Zhang was described as a key figure in China’s operational planning during the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
- CMC purge
- Five of the original seven CMC members formed after the 2022 Party Congress have now been removed.
- Remaining original members
- Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin are identified as the only active members remaining from that original body.