China has launched an anti-corruption investigation into top military officials, including General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department, state media reported Monday.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed last month that the pair were under investigation, but did not provide details on the reasons behind the probe.
The PLA Daily, the Chinese military’s official newspaper, described Zhang and Liu as “corrupt elements” and said their removal would “remove roadblocks” and “squeeze out the water diluting combat effectiveness”. The editorial framed the investigation as part of efforts to strengthen the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and improve operational readiness.
Experts say the move reflects President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, which has targeted officials at all levels of the Chinese Communist Party and the military since he came to power more than a decade ago. Some analysts argue the purge also serves to consolidate Xi’s control and eliminate political rivals.
Dylan Loh, associate professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, told AFP: “The reference to ‘combat effectiveness’ indicates that corruption at the highest levels has affected military readiness and signals Xi’s resolve to remove corrupt officials, however forceful the measures may be.”
The PLA Daily editorial also called on soldiers to “unify their thoughts and actions” with the decisions of the Central Military Commission and Xi, suggesting some resistance to his directives within the military.
Analysts note the probe comes amid ongoing tensions in the region. The Pentagon has suggested that Xi may aim to assert control over Taiwan by 2027, a self-ruled island China claims as its own. Beijing has refused to rule out the use of force but says it prefers peaceful unification.
Lim Tai Wei, East Asia expert at Japan’s Soka University, said: “Linking Zhang and Liu’s investigations to the broader anti-corruption drive is part of efforts to professionalise the military and make it leaner and more effective for potential combat operations.”
The current probe follows previous investigations into top PLA officials, including former generals He Weidong and Miao Hua, who were expelled from the military in October as part of similar anti-corruption measures.
