The Chinese Communist Party has formally expelled Zhang Youxia, a former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission who was widely regarded as the military’s No. 2 official under President Xi Jinping, from both the Party and the armed forces after an investigation found him involved in corruption, faction-building and political misconduct.

		0
Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff Department, whose Party and military memberships were formally revoked on Sept. 21. / Xinhua

According to Beijing sources familiar with China’s military affairs on Sept. 22, the Communist Party’s Politburo reviewed and approved a report the previous day on disciplinary action against former Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, who was also a Politburo member, and former CMC Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli.

The report was submitted by the CMC’s Commission for Discipline Inspection and its supervisory commission.

“The investigation found that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli betrayed their original aspirations and mission and acted in opposition to the Party,” the Politburo said. “They abandoned Party principles and crossed red lines.”

It added that the two “seriously violated political discipline and rules, formed factions, and were neither loyal nor honest toward the Party.”

The Politburo also cited allegations that they used their positions to provide favors, including promotions, to others; accepted large amounts of money and gifts; and failed to properly supervise and educate relatives and staff members around them.

“Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli seriously violated Party discipline and are also suspected of serious duty-related crimes,” the Politburo said. “Their cases involve both political and economic issues, with corruption and illicit enrichment coexisting with dereliction of duty and abuse of office.”

It added that the sums involved were “particularly large,” the nature of the cases “extremely serious” and their impact “extremely harmful.”

The Politburo decided to expel both men from the Communist Party and strip them of their status as delegates to the 20th Party Congress. Their cases were also transferred to military prosecutors for review and prosecution, paving the way for criminal trials and potentially severe punishment.

The Politburo also said the expulsions are expected to be formally endorsed at the fifth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party Central Committee, scheduled for Oct. 26-29. It added that the Central Military Commission had already expelled both men from the armed forces.

China’s military has seen a series of high-level purges under President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.

Former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was removed in 2023, followed by former Political Work Department Director Miao Hua and former CMC Vice Chairman He Weidong in 2024 and 2025.

In January this year, Zhang, then regarded as the military’s No. 2 official, and Liu were also removed from their posts.

As a result, only Xi and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin now remain on the seven-member Central Military Commission, which is normally composed of one chairman, two vice chairmen and four other members.

The commission has effectively been hollowed out, leaving power within the military leadership heavily concentrated around Xi.

                                                                                                           Hong Soon-do