Overview
- PLA Daily said Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were accused of undermining the Party’s absolute leadership over the military before being expelled from the Communist Party and removed from top posts.
- The shake-up has sidelined five of the seven members of the Central Military Commission, an unprecedented turnover that concentrates authority at the very top.
- Zhang Youxia’s fall is especially notable given his status as a trusted princeling with deep personal ties to Xi and a key role in military modernization.
- Official statements emphasize corruption and disloyalty, while separate media reports alleging possible nuclear-related leaks to the United States remain unconfirmed.
- The purge heightens questions about leadership succession and operational stability in the PLA and has drawn intense scrutiny from foreign intelligence services.