China’s top general Zhang Youxia placed under investigation by defence ministry

China’s defence ministry has confirmed that Zhang Youxia, vice‑chairman of the Central Military Commission and a close ally of president Xi Jinping, is under investigation, the ministry announced on Saturday. The announcement also named Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department, as under investigation.

The ministry said both men were suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Zhang was accused of leaking information about China’s nuclear‑weapons programme to the US and of accepting bribes for official acts, including the promotion of an officer to defence minister, citing people familiar with a high‑level briefing; The Guardian was unable to independently verify those reports.

Zhang is a member of the party politburo, one of the few leading officers with combat experience, and has not been seen publicly since 20 November, when he met Russia’s defence minister in Moscow. The case is the highest profile so far in an aggressive anti‑graft purge that has targeted the military since Xi launched a crackdown in 2012 and that reached the PLA’s upper echelons in 2023 when the Rocket Force was targeted.

Zhang’s removal is the second of a sitting general on the Central Military Commission since the 1966–76 Cultural Revolution; former CMC vice‑chair He Weidong was expelled from the party and PLA in October and eight top generals were expelled on graft charges in October 2025.

Key Topics

World, Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping, Central Military Commission, Liu Zhenli, People's Liberation Army