China’s President Xi Jinping has overseen the removal of two top-ranking military officials, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) Zhang Youxia and Chief of the Joint Staff Department Liu Zhenli, amid a widening anti-corruption campaign within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The investigations into both generals, announced in late January 2026, represent the most significant purge of senior military leadership since the era of Mao Zedong, according to reports.
Zhang Youxia, a long-time ally of Xi Jinping and a member of the Politburo, is accused of “suspected serious violations of discipline and law,” a phrase commonly used to denote corruption within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His removal is particularly notable given his close relationship with Xi, stemming from their shared background as “princelings” – the children of senior CCP officials. Liu Zhenli faces similar accusations.
The latest purges follow a previous crackdown in October 2025, which saw nine other top generals removed from their posts, also under the guise of an anti-corruption drive. This brings the total number of high-ranking officers investigated in recent months to eleven, significantly disrupting the PLA’s leadership structure. The CMC, which controls the two-million-strong PLA, now consists of only Xi Jinping and his anti-corruption chief, according to reports.
Xi Jinping publicly addressed the situation on February 13, 2026, in a rare reference to the recent military shakeup. Speaking in a virtual address, Xi stated that the past year had been “unusual and extraordinary” and that the army had “undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption.” He also asserted that the PLA had effectively addressed “various risks and challenges” and that its troops were “loyal to the Party… and proven themselves capable, and dependable.” This is the first time Xi has directly acknowledged corruption within the military in his annual Chinese New Year greetings since 2022.
Analysts suggest that Xi’s anti-corruption drive, while ostensibly aimed at rooting out graft, may also serve as a tool to consolidate power and eliminate potential rivals within the military. A recent opinion piece published by Nikkei Asia argued that the campaign has removed the PLA’s “safety valve,” replacing experienced “rational pacifists” with less assertive officers. The article suggests that this shift could increase the risk of miscalculation and escalation in regional security dynamics.
The investigations into Zhang and Liu are ongoing, and no further details regarding the specific allegations have been released by Chinese authorities. The CMC has not announced any immediate replacements for the removed officials, leaving a significant void in the PLA’s top leadership.
