China Military Shake-Up: Zhang Youxia Removed From State Central Military Commission
China has removed senior military officer Zhang Youxia from his position in the state Central Military Commission, months after authorities announced an investigation into him for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang, a vice-chairman of the CMC and senior Communist Party figure, has not been formally removed from the Party’s parallel CMC.
China on Friday, August 28, removed senior military officer Zhang Youxia from his position in the state Central Military Commission, months after an investigation into the powerful military leader was announced. State-run Xinhua reported the decision, citing the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Zhang, who had served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and was a member of China's elite Politburo, was investigated alongside CMC member Liu Zhenli for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. The investigations were announced in January. Evergrande Founder Sentenced to Life in Prison: Hui Ka Yan’s Fortune, Fraud Case and Collapse.
Zhang Youxia Removed From State CMC
Friday's decision formally removes Zhang from his position in the state Central Military Commission. Liu Zhenli, the CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department, was also removed from his state CMC position. The announcement was made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, according to Xinhua.
The move represents a major development in the case involving Zhang, one of the highest-ranking military officers to come under investigation in recent years.
January Investigation Put Zhang Under Scrutiny
China announced on January 24 that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. The announcement was issued by China's Ministry of National Defense and carried by Xinhua.
At the time, Zhang was identified as a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. Liu was identified as a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
The Chinese military has been subject to an extensive anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping, with a number of senior officers removed or investigated in recent years.
Party And State Military Commissions Are Separate
The latest announcement concerns Zhang and Liu's positions in the state Central Military Commission. China has parallel Communist Party and state CMC structures. The Communist Party's CMC is the country's central military leadership body, while the state CMC is a constitutional state institution with overlapping membership and functions.
Importantly, Zhang and Liu have not been formally or publicly stripped of their positions in the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, according to the latest reporting. That means Friday's announcement does not, by itself, establish that Zhang has been removed from every military or Party position he previously held.
Zhang Was A Senior Figure In China's Military
Zhang had been one of the most senior figures in China's military hierarchy and served as a vice-chairman of the CMC under President Xi Jinping. His seniority was reflected in his membership of the Politburo, one of the Communist Party's most powerful decision-making bodies.
Chinese state media had continued to publicly identify Zhang as a senior military leader before his investigation. In 2025, for example, Xinhua reported that he attended a military academic seminar and spoke about strengthening political control of the armed forces and advancing military modernisation.
Friday's decision is the latest formal step following the investigation announced in January. However, questions remain over Zhang's status within the Communist Party's Central Military Commission and whether further personnel changes will follow.
The removal of two senior military figures also comes as Beijing continues its broader campaign against corruption and alleged disciplinary violations within the People's Liberation Army. For now, the publicly confirmed action is limited to their removal from the state Central Military Commission, while their status in the Party's parallel military structure remains unresolved.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 05:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
