China has expelled two of its most senior military figures, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the armed forces, according to an official announcement reported on Monday. Authorities accused them of disloyalty, corruption and other serious disciplinary violations.
Zhang served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission under President Xi Jinping and had been widely regarded as one of Xi’s closest allies in the military. Liu was also a CMC member and headed its Joint Staff Department. Investigations into both men were announced in January, and they were removed from the state CMC in late August.
State media said the pair “formed cliques and factions” and were “disloyal and dishonest to the party,” with political and economic wrongdoing intertwined and “exceptionally large” sums involved. A Politburo meeting chaired by Xi on Monday approved the expulsions, and Xinhua said the cases will be transferred to military prosecutors.
The campaign has left the formerly seven-member CMC with only two active members, including Xi as chairman. The announcement comes days before Xi is due to travel to the US for talks with President Donald Trump and weeks ahead of an October Communist Party conclave focused on governance and discipline.
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