Full Breakdown
China Strips Two Senior Generals from the Central Military Commission
8/29/2026, 6:06:20 AM
Removal of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli
On August 28, state media Xinhua announced that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were removed from the People’s Republic of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC). Zhang, the senior vice-chairman of the CMC and the highest-ranking uniformed officer, was stripped of his vice-chairmanship. Liu, chief of staff of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, lost his post as well.
Anti-Corruption Campaign Context
The dismissals are part of the broader anti-graft drive launched by President Xi Jinping after he took power in 2012. Xi’s 2017 directive urged party leaders to intensify the fight against corruption within the military, and the campaign has since led to the investigation, removal, or purging of numerous senior officers and officials.
Impact on CMC Composition
The removal of the two generals reduces the CMC’s active membership from seven to just two remaining members besides President Xi Jinping himself. The same Xinhua report noted that Zhang and Liu’s names were deleted from the National People’s Congress (NPC) delegate list, confirming the loss of their parliamentary seats. Ten other NPC deputies, including former CMC officials, were also removed from the list at the same time.
Official Narrative and Party Response
The Standing Committee of the NPC formally decided to remove the two officers, emphasizing adherence to party discipline. The party’s narrative frames the action as necessary to preserve the “absolute control of the military” and to protect the reputation of the armed forces. No public denial or defense from Zhang or Liu was reported.
Implications for Military Leadership
With only two active CMC members remaining, the concentration of military authority now rests heavily on President Xi and a small inner circle. Observers note that the purge of such senior figures—especially a general long regarded as close to Xi—signals that the anti-corruption campaign continues to reach the highest echelons of the PLA, potentially reshaping command dynamics and succession planning within China’s armed forces.
