China’s Defense Ministry has announced an investigation into Zhang Youxia, a high-ranking general and member of the Communist Party’s Politburo, over suspected “serious violations of discipline and law.” Zhang, who serves as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is one of the country’s most senior military officials. Another CMC member, Liu Zhenli, is also under investigation on similar grounds.
Zhang, 74, has been a member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) since 1968 and has remained in office beyond the customary retirement age for Chinese military officials. Some reports suggest that he may have been involved in leaking sensitive information related to China’s nuclear program to the US, as well as accepting bribes in exchange for official promotions. However, these claims have not been confirmed by Beijing.
The investigation into Zhang and Liu is part of a broader anti-corruption drive led by President Xi Jinping, who has been cracking down on graft within the military and the Communist Party’s top decision-making body, the Politburo. Since beginning his third term as president in 2023, Xi has intensified efforts to root out corruption, arguing that it undermines the country’s development and weakens party discipline.
Several high-ranking officials have been dismissed over the past three years, including two vice chairmen and three members of the CMC, a defense minister, and over a dozen generals. In a recent meeting with the country’s top anti-graft agency, Xi emphasized the need to continue combating corruption, stating that the situation remains “grave and complex” and that there must be “no place to hide” for corrupt officials.
The state-run Global Times has cited an editorial in the PLA Daily, which stated that officials found guilty of corruption will be “dealt with without leniency” regardless of their position. The investigation into Zhang and Liu is a significant development in Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, and its outcome is likely to be closely watched both within China and internationally. As the country continues to grapple with the issue of corruption, the probe serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges facing China’s leadership in its efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
