BEIJING (AFP) - China said on Saturday the senior vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission and another high-ranking official were under investigation over suspected "serious violations of discipline", a common euphemism for corruption.
"Following a review... it has been decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli," the defence ministry said in a statement.
Zhang Youxia, 75, is the more senior general of two CMC vice chairmen.
He shares the title with Zhang Shengmin, a general in Beijing's secretive rocket force and who is no relation.
Zhang Shengmin was promoted to the post in October after Beijing expelled his predecessor in another sweeping corruption purge.
Both generals rank below Xi, who has held the CMC chairmanship since 2012.
Liu, 61, is the chief of staff of the CMC's joint staff department.
For the record, in 2025, a sweeping anti-corruption campaign in China led to the investigation of high-ranking military officials, including Admiral Miao Hua of the Central Military Commission (CMC), for "serious violations of discipline," a term indicating corruption.
This followed the expulsion of former Defence Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe.
Key Individuals: Adm. Miao Hua was suspended in November 2025. The first-ranked vice chairman of the CMC is Gen. Zhang Youxia, with Gen. Zhang Shengmin also serving on the commission.
The investigation is part of a broader, long-term anti-graft campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping, which has seen numerous officials removed.
The crackdown suggests that corruption remains a major issue within the PLA, leading to significant shake-ups in the top military leadership.
This trend indicates continued efforts by the Chinese leadership to tighten control over the military and address corruption within its ranks.
