China removes ex-top general Zhang from Central Military Commission: State media

Beijing, China announced on Friday that it had removed senior military officers Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from their positions in the state Central Military Commission (CMC), according to state-run Xinhua. The decision was based on investigations into the two officers, who were accused of serious violations of discipline and law.

Zhang was second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the CMC and a member of China's elite Politburo. Liu was the CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. The announcement pertains solely to Zhang and Liu's positions in the state CMC, and they have not been formally stripped of their posts in the CMC of the ruling Communist Party.