Why did China expel Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the party and military?

Chinese authorities accused them of serious disciplinary and legal violations, including disloyalty, corruption, dereliction of duty, and forming cliques and factions. Xinhua also said their political and economic wrongdoing were intertwined with corrupt self-enrichment and abuse of office.

When were Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli first placed under investigation?

Probes into both officers were announced in January. They were later removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August before Monday’s expulsion announcement.

What is the broader political significance of the expulsion before Xi Jinping’s U.S. trip?

The announcement came days before Xi Jinping was set to travel to the U.S. for talks with Donald Trump. It also came weeks before a key October party conclave focused on internal governance and discipline.

China expels 2 top generals from party and military, alleging disloyalty, corruption

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Summary

China expelled two top military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military in Beijing over serious violations of discipline and law. Xinhua said they were accused of disloyalty, corruption, dereliction of duty and forming cliques and factions. The announcement came days before Xi Jinping’s planned trip to the U.S. and weeks before an October party conclave on governance and discipline.

Key Facts

Zhang Youxia had been vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and was long seen as Xi Jinping’s closest military ally.
Liu Zhenli was a Central Military Commission member and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
Probes into both men were announced in January, and they were removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August.
Xinhua said the sums involved were exceptionally large and described the impact of their conduct as extremely egregious.

By Reuters

Published Sep 21, 2026 8:55 pm KST
Updated Sep 21, 2026 9:44 pm KST

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposes a toast during a state dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 14. AP-Yonhap

BEIJING — China has expelled two top military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military over "serious violations of discipline and law," the state-run Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

Zhang Youxia was second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission — the supreme command body — and has long been seen as Xi's closest military ally. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.

The military has been one of the main targets of a broader corruption crackdown ordered by Xi in 2012.

Probes into Zhang and Liu were announced in January, with the pair removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August.

The Chinese leadership accused Zhang and Liu of disloyalty, corruption, dereliction of duty and other serious disciplinary violations.

The pair "seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party," Xinhua cited official documents as saying.

Zhang and Liu "crossed red lines and basic limits," it said, adding that their "political and economic wrongdoing were intertwined, and corrupt self-enrichment coexisted with dereliction of duty and abuse of office."

"The sums involved were exceptionally large; the nature (of their conduct) was extremely serious and the impact extremely egregious," it said.

Zhang had also been a member of the elite Politburo of the ruling Communist Party and is one of just a few leading officers with combat experience.

The announcement came days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to travel to the U.S. for talks with President Donald Trump, and weeks before a key October party conclave on internal party governance and discipline.

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