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China Opens Probes Into Top Generals as State Media Alleges Zhang Undermined Xi

The move signals a fresh escalation of Xi Jinping’s loyalty‑enforcement push across the PLA.

Overview

  • China’s Ministry of National Defense said Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and the law.
  • An editorial in PLA Daily, echoed by Xinhua, accused Zhang of undermining Xi’s authority, worsening corruption and harming combat readiness programs.
  • The Central Committee authorized the formal probes, following weeks in which both generals were absent from high‑level public events.
  • The Wall Street Journal reported allegations that Zhang leaked technical information on China’s nuclear programs to the United States and took large bribes, a claim not confirmed by Chinese authorities.
  • Reporting indicates the investigations further thin the Central Military Commission’s active leadership, concentrating authority with Xi and raising questions about operational continuity.