China strips senior generals of top military posts

China has officially removed Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from their senior military positions, intensifying a significant leadership purge that has dismantled a large portion of President Xi Jinping's high-ranking military command. This decision, approved by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Friday, came seven months after both officers were under investigation for suspected serious disciplinary and legal violations.

Zhang, 76, was Zhang Youxia's senior vice-chairman and the second-ranking military official after Xi, while Liu headed the Joint Staff Department. Although they have not yet been formally removed from their Communist Party military commissions, their removal signifies a major upheaval within the People's Liberation Army during Xi's nearly 14-year tenure.

Zhang, known for his close ties to Xi, extensive command experience, and military combat history, held influential positions overseeing military equipment and modernization. Liu, another Vietnam War veteran, had significant responsibility for operational planning and coordination among various armed forces branches. The investigations into both officers were announced on January 24, accelerating a campaign that has targeted nearly all major components of China's defense establishment.

Zhang Shengmin, the senior military disciplinary official who became the new vice-chairman, now stands as the principal commander remaining alongside Xi after successive removals from the commission that began Xi's third leadership term with seven members. Xi has consistently linked military effectiveness with political loyalty and clean governance, demanding stronger Communist Party control and warning that the armed forces could not shelter corruption or harbor officials disloyal to the party.

The campaign has shifted from bribery allegations to scrutiny of procurement, command discipline, and political reliability, with authorities now seeking public information about potential procurement violations in the Rocket Force. This area has been particularly affected, raising concerns about the impact on readiness and modernization.

The removal of experienced commanders creates immediate personnel challenges for China's military, as lower-ranking officers take on operational duties. However, the repeated turnover among generals complicates institutional continuity, procurement management, and the implementation of complex reforms related to missiles, nuclear forces, artificial intelligence, space systems, and integrated commands.

Despite these disruptions, China's military spending continues to grow, with defense expenditure for 2026 set at approximately 1.9 trillion yuan. This expansion is aimed at modernizing the PLA to become a technologically advanced force capable of joint operations, as Beijing works towards its military objectives by 2027, broader modernization by 2035, and the development of a world-class force by mid-century.