Key facts
- China expelled two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military.
- The expulsions cite alleged disloyalty, corruption, and serious disciplinary breaches.
- Zhang Youxia was vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli was a CMC member and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
- Probes into Zhang and Liu were announced in January, and they were removed from the Central Military Commission in late August.
- The leadership accused the generals of being disloyal, forsaking party principles, and failing to supervise staff and family.
- Official documents cited by Xinhua stated the pair "seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party."
China has expelled two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military, according to an official announcement on Monday. The expulsions cite alleged disloyalty, corruption, and serious disciplinary breaches. Zhang Youxia served as second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, while Liu Zhenli was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. Probes into the two generals were announced in January, and they were removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August.
Since coming to power in 2012, Xi Jinping has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that has ensnared millions within China's bureaucracy, with the military increasingly becoming a target in recent years. The leadership accused Zhang and Liu of violating political discipline, forming cliques, and being disloyal and dishonest to the party. Official documents cited by Xinhua stated that their "political and economic wrongdoings were intertwined, and corrupt self-enrichment coexisted with dereliction of duty and abuse of office," with "exceptionally large" sums involved and an "extremely egregious" impact.
Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China analyst, noted that charges of disloyalty, including forming cliques, are unprecedented and could signal a serious challenge to Xi's authority. Joseph Torigian, an expert in Chinese politics, pointed out the irony of Zhang Youxia, once presented as a loyal young officer, now facing accusations of corruption.