China removes top military officers Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli amid corruption probe

China has officially removed two of its highest-ranking military officials, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Central Military Commission (CMC), the nation's primary military decision-making body. The removals were reported by state media on Friday, seven months after both officers were announced to be under investigation for "serious violations of the law," a common euphemism for corruption.

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the meeting decided to remove Zhang Youxia from the post of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China

Zhang Youxia, who held the position of vice chairperson, was considered China's highest-ranked general. His removal is particularly noteworthy given his seniority and perceived closeness to President Xi Jinping, making his fall from grace a surprising development for observers. Liu Zhenli, previously the chief of staff for the CMC's joint staff department overseeing combat planning, was also removed.

The announcement aligns with President Xi Jinping's extensive anti-corruption drive that has characterized his tenure. An editorial in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily had previously stated that the two men had "seriously trampled on and undermined the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the CMC chairman," directly implicating Xi's authority.

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For practical purposes, however, they are treated as one (and) the same in (China’s) bureaucracy

Following these removals, the CMC, which is constitutionally supposed to have seven members, now has only two publicly known representatives: President Xi Jinping and anti-corruption chief Zhang Shengmin. The current whereabouts of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli remain undisclosed, and no specific details regarding the accusations against them have been provided.

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seriously trampled on and undermined the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the CMC chairman