Date: September 21, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
China has expelled two of its highest-ranking military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military after accusing them of serious disciplinary violations, corruption and disloyalty to the party, according to an official announcement on Monday.
Zhang, who served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, was the second-highest-ranking figure in China's military hierarchy under President Xi Jinping. Liu was a member of the commission and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. Both men had previously been placed under investigation, with the probes announced in January. They were removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the two generals had seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the Communist Party. Authorities also accused them of corruption, abuse of office, dereliction of duty and failing to properly supervise relatives and close associates.
According to the official account, the alleged political and economic misconduct was intertwined, with corrupt self-enrichment occurring alongside abuse of power. Chinese authorities said the sums involved were exceptionally large and described the alleged conduct as extremely serious. The allegations have not been tested in a criminal trial. Their cases have been referred to military prosecutors for further examination and possible prosecution.
The expulsions were formally approved at a Politburo meeting chaired by Xi, according to Chinese state media. The move places the two former generals among the latest senior military figures caught up in Xi's long-running campaign against corruption and violations of party discipline.
Zhang had been regarded as an important figure within China's military leadership and was one of the few senior officers with combat experience. He had also served on the Politburo, the Communist Party's senior decision-making body. His removal is particularly notable because of his previous position as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The latest action comes as China's military has become a major focus of the government's broader anti-corruption campaign. Since Xi came to power in 2012, authorities have investigated millions of officials across the party and government, while numerous senior military and political figures have been removed from their positions.
A series of investigations and expulsions in the People's Liberation Army has significantly altered the composition of the Central Military Commission. Reuters reported that only two active figures remained on what had previously been a seven-member commission, including Xi, who serves as chairman.
The accusations against Zhang and Liu also include allegations of political disloyalty and faction-building, in addition to financial misconduct. Reuters quoted Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China analyst and Georgetown University senior fellow, as saying that the allegations concerning disloyalty and the formation of factions were particularly significant because such accusations are unusual in cases involving senior military officers.
The expulsions come just days before Xi is expected to travel to the United States for talks with President Donald Trump. They also precede an important Communist Party meeting scheduled for October that is expected to address internal party governance and discipline.
Chinese authorities have not provided a detailed public account of the specific acts allegedly committed by Zhang and Liu beyond the accusations contained in the official announcement. The next stage of the process will involve military prosecutors examining the cases and determining whether criminal proceedings should follow.
The removal of two senior figures from the military leadership underscores the continuing scale of China's campaign against corruption and alleged breaches of party discipline within the armed forces. The cases are expected to receive close attention as China prepares for further discussions about military leadership, party discipline and the future direction of the People's Liberation Army.