Full Breakdown
Xi’s Military Purge: Expulsion of Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Expulsion of Two Top PLA Leaders
On September 21, the Chinese Communist Party announced that General Zhang Youxia and General Liu Zhenli were expelled from both the Party and the People’s Liberation Army. Zhang, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and second-in-command to President Xi, had been regarded as Xi’s closest military ally. Liu, a CMC member, served as chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department. Their removal follows investigations that began earlier in the year.
Background & Context
Since assuming power in 2012, President Xi has pursued an anti-corruption drive that has reached the military’s highest echelons. The two generals were placed under investigation on January 24 and were stripped of their CMC posts in late August before the September decision.
Timeline
- January 24 – Formal investigation of Zhang and Liu launched.
- Late August – Both removed from the state CMC.
- September 21 – Politburo meeting chaired by Xi approves their expulsion.
- September 24 – Xi is scheduled to travel to the United States for talks with President Donald Trump; an October Party congress on governance is imminent.
Data & Statistics
State media described the alleged misconduct as involving “exceptionally large” sums of money, “huge” payments, and “enormous” gifts. The officials were accused of using their positions to secure promotions for others in exchange for bribes, accepting prohibited gifts, and failing to supervise relatives and close staff. No precise monetary figures were disclosed.
Official Statements & Responses
The Politburo meeting on September 21 formally approved the expulsions, and Xinhua reported that the cases will be transferred to military prosecutors for examination and prosecution in accordance with the law.
Why It Matters / Impact
The expulsions reduce the Central Military Commission’s active membership to two senior figures besides Xi, underscoring the depth of the purge. Their timing—days before Xi’s U.S. visit and weeks before the October Party congress—highlights the political weight of the move. Analysts note that the charge of “forming cliques” signals a focus on political loyalty as well as financial misconduct, potentially reshaping the PLA’s leadership pipeline.
What’s Next
- Military procuratorial bodies will review the cases and pursue prosecution.
- The expulsions are slated for ratification at a forthcoming plenary session of the Party’s Central Committee.
- Xi’s September 24 trip to the United States and the October Party congress will proceed under the shadow of the purge, providing context for any subsequent policy or leadership adjustments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What’s most remarkable about this particular moment is that in the 1980s Zhang Youxia was presented by the party and military propaganda apparatus as proof that yet another generation of young Chinese would prove loyal to the revolution,” — Joseph Torigian, American University
- “An investigation revealed that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli betrayed their original aspirations and mission, became disloyal to the Party, lost their Party spirit and principles, and crossed red lines and bottom lines,” — Xinhua
- “He was lionised in the media as hopeful proof that yet another generation would reject materialism for higher ideals. He now faces party expulsion for corruption by Xi, a man who similarly doubled down on the party despite his own travails and those of his family,” — Mr. Torigian, American University