China’s president Xi Jinping has removed one of the country’s most powerful generals in a surprise step that has attracted global attention and raised big questions about how much power he holds over his nation’s military.
General Zhang Youxia, once the second-most important military leader in China and a long-time trusted partner of Mr. Xi, has been placed under official investigation for “serious violations of party discipline and law.” The Chinese military said he broke rules that keep the army loyal and focused.
Zhang was a very senior officer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and he was a top leader of China’s armed forces for many years. He was Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the group that has power to make China’s military decisions and is normally led by the president.
Along with him, another top commander, General Liu Zhenli, is also being investigated. Official statements did not offer clear details about what exactly they did, but they were blamed to damage the authority of Xi and the Communist Party.
This is a big step because Zhang was not only a top general but also someone who was close to Xi. He even came from a family of senior Communist Party members, and until now he was seen as someone very loyal to the leader. His removal shows that no one is untouchable in China’s political system, not even top military leaders.
This change is part of recent changes in China. For many years, Xi has started a major step to remove officials blamed of corruption or bad actions. This started with civilian leaders but later grew to military commanders, business bosses, and top political leaders. Many analysts see this step as a way for Xi to tighten his control over the country and make sure the army follows his direction.
Because the news from Beijing is short and does not give details, news agencies and experts are trying to find the real reasons. Some say this may be about corruption and rule-breaking, while others think it may be linked to internal politics and fears about power groups inside the Communist Party and army.
The change has left the Central Military Commission with only few leaders, and now Mr. Xi has direct control over the top military officers. This is the biggest change in the history of China’s military leadership, and many observers are comparing it to past purges that reshaped China’s political system.
Officials outside China are watching these events because the PLA is one of the world’s largest armies and plays a major role in regional security, especially in places like Taiwan and the South China Sea. Sudden changes at the top level can affect the military plans to deal with conflicts or responds to threats from other countries.
For now, the Chinese government has not said exactly what Zhang and Liu did, and details may never be made public. But the message is clear that Xi Jinping is willing to reshape his military leadership to keep it under his control.