Military Leadership Shakeup
China Removes Top Military Officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli From State CMC
Anonymous
Key Points
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Following the August 28 NPC Standing Committee decision, the state Central Military Commission is left with Xi Jinping as chairman and Zhang Shengmin as the remaining vice chairman, with Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli removed from the state CMC.
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The removals fit a longer-running anti-corruption drive within the military, following Li Shangfu's 2023 dismissal, Miao Hua's 2024 removal, and He Weidong's 2025 dismissal.
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Despite changes in the state CMC, there has not been a public announcement of removal from the Communist Party's Central Military Commission; China maintains parallel state and party CMC structures.
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Zhang Youxia was the military's second-highest ranking official and a Politburo member; Liu Zhenli was a CMC member and chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department.
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Analysts view the moves as part of a broader personnel reshuffle ahead of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in October.
China removed two senior military officials, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the state Central Military Commission on August 28, Xinhua reported. The dismissals followed investigations launched in January into suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang Youxia, the military's second-highest ranking official and a Politburo member, and Liu Zhenli, the Joint Staff Department chief of staff, are now stripped of their state CMC positions.
The removals are part of a sweeping anti-corruption drive through China's military leadership ahead of October's Fifth Plenary Session of the Communist Party. Though removed from the state CMC, neither official has been publicly announced as removed from the Communist Party's separate military committee. China maintains parallel state and party military structures, and the distinction matters for understanding China's governance.
A Pattern of High-Level Military Purges
Zhang and Liu's removals fit a longer pattern of military leadership dismissals under Xi Jinping. Former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was dismissed in 2023. Miao Hua, a senior general, was removed in 2024. General He Weidong faced dismissal in 2025. Reuters analysts suggest these moves reflect Xi's tightening control over the military and enforcement of party discipline.
Each dismissal has centered on corruption allegations and violations of military law. The frequency of these high-level removals signals deep organizational turbulence within China's armed forces. Officials face investigations lasting months before public removal, creating uncertainty in the military hierarchy.
Zhang Youxia's Fall From Prominence
Zhang Youxia held one of China's most powerful military positions before his removal. As vice chairman of the state CMC and a standing member of the Politburo, he ranked second only to Xi Jinping in military authority. Head Topics reported Zhang faced investigation for unspecified violations. His fall signals that even the highest-ranking officials face scrutiny in Xi's anti-corruption campaign.
The loss of Zhang removes a figure with decades of military service and political influence. His departure leaves Xi as CMC chairman with only Zhang Shengmin as the remaining vice chairman. This consolidation of power at the top reflects Xi's centralization strategy within military governance.
Why the State CMC Matters Separately
China maintains two parallel military structures: a state Central Military Commission and a Communist Party Central Military Commission. The state CMC operates under constitutional authority, while the party CMC enforces party discipline within the military. Removals from one do not automatically mean removal from the other.
The lack of public announcement regarding Zhang and Liu's party CMC status leaves their full status ambiguous. Xinhua confirmed only the state CMC removal. This separation allows China's leadership flexibility in managing disciplinary actions and maintaining the appearance of institutional distinction between state and party apparatus.
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