China removes two generals from top military command
HKFP · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
China on Friday formally removed Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from posts on the state Central Military Commission, months after authorities said they were being investigated for suspected serious discipline and legal violations. Zhang had been the senior vice-chairman of the CMC and the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Chinese military, while Liu had served as chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department. The decision was announced in a report by state news agency Xinhua on a meeting of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. Their removal leaves the seven-member body with only two known members: President Xi Jinping and anti-corruption official Zhang Shengmin.
Key Points
- Beijing first announced in January that Zhang and Liu were suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law, a phrase commonly linked to corruption cases.
- Xinhua said the National People’s Congress Standing Committee decided on Friday to remove Zhang from his post as vice-chairman of the state CMC.
- Liu, who headed the CMC’s Joint Staff Department overseeing combat planning, was also removed from the state military commission on Friday.
- A January PLA Daily commentary said the two generals had betrayed the Communist Party’s trust and undermined party control over the armed forces.
- Their whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities have not publicly provided detailed allegations against either man.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the shake-up matters because the Central Military Commission sits at the core of China’s command structure, and abrupt changes at that level can affect perceptions of political stability and policy direction in Beijing. The case also reinforces that Xi Jinping’s anti-graft and discipline campaign continues to reach the highest ranks of the armed forces, including figures once seen as politically secure.