China's Communist Party has expelled former top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the party and military, transferring their cases to military prosecutors. The Politburo accused the former commanders of taking exceptionally large bribes, forming cliques, and demonstrating political disloyalty. The move intensifies President Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-corruption campaign within the military ahead of the Fifth Plenary Session in October 2026, where a major personnel overhaul is expected.
Zhang Youxia expulsion
- ▪The Communist Party of China's Central Political Bureau expelled former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia from the party on September 21, 2026
- ▪The Central Military Commission revoked the military registration of former Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia following his removal from power in January 2026
Liu Zhenli expulsion
- ▪The Communist Party of China's Central Political Bureau expelled Liu Zhenli, the former Director of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, from the party on September 21, 2026
- ▪The Central Military Commission revoked the military registration of former Joint Staff Department Director Liu Zhenli following Liu Zhenli's removal from power in January 2026
Corruption charges
- ▪Chinese investigators accused Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of taking exceptionally large bribes and using their positions to secure promotional favors for others
- ▪The Communist Party of China's Central Political Bureau transferred the corruption cases of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli to military prosecutors on September 21, 2026
Political disloyalty accusations
- ▪The Communist Party of China's official documents stated that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli crossed basic limits, combining political and economic wrongdoing with a dereliction of duty
- ▪The Communist Party of China accused Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of forming cliques and factions, violating political discipline, and showing disloyalty to the party
Military anti-corruption campaign
- ▪The Chinese military has seen a series of high-ranking officials fall under President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive, including former Defense Minister Li Shangfu in 2023
- ▪In October 2025, nine senior Chinese military generals were expelled from the Communist Party of China and the military for violating party discipline
Fifth Plenum personnel changes
- ▪The Communist Party of China's Central Political Bureau scheduled the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee to be held in Beijing from October 26 to 29, 2026
- ▪Media reports from Hong Kong and Taiwan indicate that approximately 30 to 40 Central Committee members who fell from power due to corruption could be officially replaced during the October 2026 Fifth Plenum
Debatable claims
- ▪Xi Jinping's military anti-corruption campaign is primarily a political purge
- ▪China should combat corruption through an independent judiciary rather than internal party discipline
- ▪The Chinese military should be loyal to the state rather than the Communist Party
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