One of China's most powerful generals is under investigation, and the military has been shaken by a rare public crisis as a result. The move has set off intense speculation about internal power struggles inside the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
General Zhang Youxia, until recently the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is facing allegations of "serious violations of discipline and law," News18 reported. In China's political language, this usually points to corruption or political misconduct. The situation has become even more serious because another top officer, General Liu Zhenli, is also under probe. With both sidelined, the CMC now has only two active members left, one of them being Xi Jinping himself.
Who is General Zhang Youxia
Zhang Youxia was not just another senior officer. He was widely seen as one of Xi Jinping's closest military allies. A veteran soldier, Zhang had taken part in earlier conflicts and spent decades rising through the PLA ranks. He was known as a professional soldier with real battlefield experience. Inside China and abroad, he was respected for his role in modernising the PLA, News18 reported.
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Unlike many senior officers who fell during Xi's early anti-corruption drives, Zhang survived multiple purges. He was even kept in office beyond the usual retirement age. This was widely read as a sign of Xi's personal trust in him.
That trust now appears broken. His public investigation marks a sharp and unusual shift.
What the purge signals
Officially, Beijing says this is part of Xi's long-running anti-corruption campaign, launched after he took power in 2012. Since then, hundreds of thousands of officials have been punished, including senior military figures.
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But Zhang's case stands out. Analysts say it is "unprecedented" because of his rank and proximity to Xi. It sends a clear signal. No one, not even top insiders, is fully safe, News18 reported.
China's defence ministry has not given details. Reports suggest possible corruption in military procurement and the building of power networks within the PLA. The PLA Daily went a step further. It accused Zhang and Liu of undermining the "chairman responsibility system," a core principle that ensures the Communist Party's total control over the military.
