China has launched an investigation into two of its most senior military officials, a move that signals the latest escalation in Beijing’s sweeping crackdown inside the armed forces.
The country’s defence ministry said an inquiry has been opened into Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, as well as Liu Zhenli, a senior general and key operational commander, over what authorities described as “serious violations of discipline and law” — language typically associated with corruption probes in China. The announcement was reported in a detailed update on the investigation and confirmed in another report citing the official statement.
Zhang is widely seen as one of the most influential officers in China’s command structure and a central figure in the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army. Liu, meanwhile, holds a role closely tied to operational planning and readiness, making the case unusually significant even by the standards of recent military discipline campaigns. More context on Zhang’s role in the current leadership lineup was outlined in a separate report on the broader purge.
The developments come as China’s leadership continues to reshape the upper ranks of the military, following earlier removals and investigations that have hit both uniformed officers and defence-linked industries. Analysts say the scale of the crackdown is contributing to uncertainty inside the PLA, even as Beijing emphasizes loyalty and internal discipline as national security priorities.