China has expelled two senior generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Chinese Communist Party amid allegations of corruption, factionalism and breaches of party discipline. Investigations into both officers were announced in January, and they were removed from military duties in late August. The moves form part of President Xi Jinping’s broad anti‑corruption campaign, which has increasingly targeted senior military figures. The announcement arrived days before Xi's planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and ahead of a key party assembly on governance.
Xi’s Anti‑Corruption Drive Widens: Two Top Generals Expelled From Communist Party
A military parade in Beijing, China [File: Ng Han Guan-China Pool/Getty Images]
China has expelled two senior military figures from the Chinese Communist Party amid allegations of corruption, factionalism and serious breaches of party discipline, state media said.
“Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party,”the state‑run Xinhua news agency reported on Monday, citing official documents. The announcement did not provide detailed allegations or specific charges.
Investigations into both officers were first disclosed in January, and they were removed from their military posts in late August. Zhang Youxia had long been regarded as one of President Xi Jinping’s closest military allies, serving as the second‑in‑command of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Liu Zhenli was a CMC member and served as chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
Part Of A Broader Purge
The expulsions are the latest step in a sweeping anti‑corruption campaign led by Xi, which has seen thousands of officials investigated across the party and state apparatus. Observers describe the campaign as one of the most extensive anti‑corruption efforts in modern Chinese history, and it has previously resulted in the removal of several high‑profile political and military figures.
In June 2024, Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor were expelled from the party. More than a year earlier, China dismissed the military's second‑highest‑ranking general and eight other senior officials from the armed forces and the party. The military has increasingly been targeted in the purge, leaving only two active members — including Xi, who serves as CMC chairman — on what was formerly a seven‑member Central Military Commission.
Timing And International Context
The Defence Ministry’s announcement came days before President Xi was due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington and just weeks before a key Communist Party assembly focused on internal governance. Analysts say the timing underscores the political priorities shaping Beijing’s personnel moves ahead of major diplomatic and party events.
What Remains Unclear: Xinhua’s statement did not provide evidence or specific charges, and it is not yet known whether the expulsions will lead to criminal prosecutions or further disclosures about alleged misconduct.
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