China's Military Shakeup: Top PLA Officials Under Investigation in Xi's Anti-Corruption Drive
China's ruling Communist Party has initiated a significant investigation into top senior military officials, sending shockwaves through the People's Liberation Army (PLA) establishment. The Defense Ministry in Beijing announced on Saturday that an inquiry has been opened regarding serious violations of party discipline and laws by high-ranking officers.
High-Profile Targets in Military Probe
The investigation specifically targets Gen Zhang Youxia, a member of the elite Politburo of the Communist Party and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. This commission serves as the overall high command of the Chinese military, currently headed by President Xi Jinping. Additionally, the probe includes Liu Zhenli, who serves as chief of staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department.
"After deliberation by the CPC Central Committee, it was decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli," the Chinese Ministry of Defence stated in a brief press release that was reported by news wire PTI. This development represents another major step in the ongoing scrutiny of military leadership.
Xi Jinping's Sustained Anti-Corruption Campaign
This latest investigation follows the sacking or punishment of dozens of senior People's Liberation Army officers under an intensified anti-corruption campaign that President Xi Jinping has pursued since assuming power in 2012. The campaign, often described as targeting both "tigers and flies" – referring to both high-ranking and lower-level officials – has become a defining feature of Xi's leadership.
In an internal speech delivered in October of last year, President Xi emphasized that corruption represents "the greatest threat" facing the Communist Party. He further cautioned that the fight against corruption remains "grim and complex," indicating that the campaign would continue with undiminished intensity.
Historical Context and Previous Targets
President Xi Jinping, currently in his unprecedented third five-year term as China's leader at age 72, initiated this comprehensive anti-graft campaign when he took over power. The effort has previously included:
- Two former defense ministers
- Dozens of senior PLA officers
- He Weidong, the second-ranked military official of the CMC, who was expelled from both the party and armed forces in October last year
Just last month, the Chinese parliament expelled three additional officials:
- Wang Renhua, head of the CMC's Political and Legal Affairs Committee
- Zhang Hongbing, political commissar of the People's Armed Police (PAP)
- Wang Peng, director of the CMC's training department
Broader Implications and Political Significance
President Xi Jinping stands as the only Chinese leader since Communist Party founder Mao Zedong to remain in power for more than two terms. State media reports have indicated that over a million officials have faced punishment under the anti-graft campaign, including numerous high-level military figures.
While officially presented as a necessary measure to combat corruption, critics have reportedly suggested that the intensity and continuation of this campaign have also served to help President Xi consolidate his power within both the party and military structures. The investigation into such prominent military figures as Gen Zhang Youxia represents a significant escalation in this ongoing political and institutional cleansing.
The developments underscore the continuing transformation within China's military establishment as President Xi's anti-corruption drive enters its second decade with no signs of abatement. These investigations into top military officials signal that no level of the armed forces hierarchy remains immune from scrutiny in what has become one of the most extensive anti-graft campaigns in modern political history.
