China has launched a formal investigation into General Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s most powerful military figures, in a move that underscores the scale of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
The Defence Ministry confirmed that Zhang, a Politburo member and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, is suspected of “serious violations of discipline and law.”
Another senior officer, Central Military Commission member Liu Zhenli, is also under investigation on similar grounds.
Zhang, 74, has served in the People’s Liberation Army since 1968 and remained in his post beyond the usual retirement age.
While Chinese authorities have not detailed the allegations, some Western media have reported claims involving bribery and the leaking of sensitive information, which Beijing has not confirmed.
State media has reiterated that no official is beyond scrutiny, as the leadership continues to purge corruption from the military and party ranks, with multiple senior commanders and defence officials removed in recent years amid warnings that the problem remains significant and unresolved.
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— Boi Agent One (@boiagentone) January 25, 2026
Unlike New Zealand, if you have served in the police or military in China, you get a harsher sentence. They take the view you know the law better than the rest of society, so have less justification for breaking it. Small wonder they are doing better than the West.