China expels two top military leaders over corruption and disloyalty

China has purged the country's highest-ranking army general and another top military official from the ruling Communist Party over alleged corruption and disloyalty uncovered during a months-long investigation, state media reported on Monday.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, the actions target Gen. Zhang Youxia, who served as vice chair of the powerful Central Military Commission and was second only to President Xi Jinping in the military hierarchy, alongside Gen. Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff of the commission’s Joint Staff Department. Zhang was the more senior of two vice chairmen on the CMC, making him China’s highest-ranked general, a member of the elite Politburo, and one of just a few leading officers possessing combat experience. Observers noted that his fall from grace was particularly shocking given his seniority and the widespread perception that he was close to the Chinese leader.

Allegations of Disloyalty and Corruption

The state-run Xinhua news agency detailed that the pair "seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party." State documents cited by Xinhua stated that Zhang and Liu "crossed red lines and basic limits" where their "political and economic wrongdoing were intertwined, and corrupt self-enrichment coexisted with dereliction of duty and abuse of office."

Further specifics released by state media revealed that the officials abused their power to help others with promotions while improperly accepting gifts and an "enormous amount of money." Xinhua noted that the sums involved were exceptionally large, the nature of their conduct was extremely serious, and the impact was extremely egregious. Additionally, the investigators concluded that the two men failed to supervise their relatives and close staff members.

Context and Enforcement Under Xi Jinping

The military has remained one of the primary targets of a broader corruption crackdown ordered by President Xi Jinping in 2012. Xi has continuously demanded that the top military brass remain entirely corruption-free and demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the Communist Party leadership.

There must be no one in the military who harbors disloyalty to the (ruling Communist) Party, Xi stated in remarks originally published by Xinhua in March. Monday’s decision reaffirms the firm position that… there is absolutely no place for corrupt elements to hide within the military, state media added.

Legal Specifics and Next Steps

Top officials meeting in Beijing decided to expel the two men from the Communist Party and transfer their cases to the military’s legal organs for review and prosecution, according to Xinhua. The defense ministry originally announced in January that Zhang and Liu were suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law, which serves as a common euphemism for corruption.

The formal expulsion announcements arrived just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to travel to the U.S. For talks with President Donald Trump. the timing coincides with preparations for a key October party conclave dedicated to internal party governance and discipline. State media noted that the expulsions of Zhang and Liu remain subject to ratification at a plenary session of the Party’s Central Committee.