Chinese Anti-Graft Campaign: Month After 3 Top Military Officials Expelled, 2 Under Investigation

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 15:55 IST

Xi has termed graft "the biggest threat" to the Communist Party and said "the fight against corruption remains grave and complex".

Two top-ranking Chinese officials are under probe for suspected "serious violations of discipline". (REUTERS)

Almost a month after three top-ranking Chinese officials were expelled from the from the national legislature, two more have been put under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline".

AFP quoted the defence ministry saying in a statement that an investigation has been launched on senior vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and another high-ranking official for suspected “serious violations of discipline".

“Following a review… it has been decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli," it said.

The two men were “suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law", the ministry said.

Zhang Youxia (75) is China’s highest-ranked general as the more senior CMC vice chairman. He is also a member of the powerful Politburo, the 24-member executive body of the Chinese Communist Party.

Liu Zhenli (61) is the chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department, which oversees combat planning.

According to AFP, rumours of a probe swirled this week after Zhang Youxia and Liu appeared to miss an official meeting chaired by Xi and attended by second-ranked CMC vice chairman Zhang Shengmin.

Xi has termed graft “the biggest threat" to the Communist Party and said “the fight against corruption remains grave and complex".

In October, China had announced that it has started corruption investigations into nine military officials.

In December, three top-ranking officials – Wang Renhua, head of the Central Military Commission’s Political and Legal Affairs Committee; Zhang Hongbing, political commissar of the People’s Armed Police (PAP); and Wang Peng, director of the CMC’s training department – were expelled from the national legislature.

According to Hong Kong-based South China Post, the officers have been missing from key events in recent months, including a celebration in late July for the anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the party’s fourth plenum in October.

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