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China Expels Two Top Generals for Disloyalty, Corruption
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Moneycontrol•21-09-2026, 20:21
China Expels Two Top Generals for Disloyalty, Corruption
- •China has expelled two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military, citing disloyalty, corruption, and serious disciplinary breaches.
- •Zhang Youxia, formerly second-in-command under President Xi Jinping and a close military ally, and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member, were removed after probes announced in January.
- •The expulsions are part of Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has increasingly targeted the military in recent years.
- •The leadership accused the generals of forming cliques and factions, being disloyal to the party, and having intertwined political and economic wrongdoings with exceptionally large sums involved.
- •Experts note the unprecedented charges of disloyalty, suggesting Xi views this as a serious challenge to his authority and sends a strong message to the military and party elders.
Key Questions Answered
China expelled Zhang Youxia, who served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department, from the Communist Party and the military.
The leaders were accused of being disloyal to the party, forming cliques and factions, violating political rules, and engaging in corrupt self-enrichment intertwined with dereliction of duty and abuse of office.
Following approval during a Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping, their suspected criminal cases will be handed over to military prosecutors for examination and prosecution in accordance with the law.
