{
  "id": 9298767,
  "title": "PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/pla-chiefs-downfall-eliminated-political-danger-military-mouthpiece",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T08:01:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3368484/pla-chiefs-downfall-eliminated-political-danger-military-mouthpiece-says"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily has declared that the expulsion of two former leaders from the Chinese military and Communist Party has effectively \"eliminated a major hidden political danger\". Zhang Youxia, the former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, a fellow CMC member, were expelled for factionalism and disloyalty. This significant move, according to the PLA Daily, is a major victory in the ongoing fight against corruption within the military and the party. The editorial in the PLA Daily praised the \"purity and honour\" of the military, asserting that the removal of these two leaders will allow the military to better fulfill its missions and tasks.\n\nThe PLA Daily also highlighted the anti-corruption achievements in the military since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. They pointed to the \"thorough uncovering of lingering poisonous influences and accumulated ills\", which has led to continuous improvement in the morale and spirit of the troops. The editorial acknowledged the complex and profound changes occurring in the international, national, and party-military conditions and emphasized the importance of aligning military actions with the decisions and arrangements of the party's Central Committee and the CMC.\n\nThe editorial urged the military to integrate political rectification into everyday work, making it a regular practice. They called for the complete eradication of corruption and the removal of corruptive elements from the military. In addition, they emphasized the need to strengthen military training and preparations for war, closely following advancements in technology and warfare. The editorial stressed the importance of conducting realistic combat-oriented military training, accelerating the development of advanced combat effectiveness, and advancing the development and application of combat forces in new domains and qualities.\n\nIn recent years, China's massive anti-corruption campaign has led to the downfall of numerous high-ranking military officials. Before Zhang and Liu's expulsion, CMC members He Weidong, Li Shangfu, and Miao Hua were also removed in disgrace. This action has left only two members, Xi and Vice-Chairman Zhang Shengmin, on the seven-seat CMC.",
  "summary": "The expulsion of two former leaders from the Chinese armed forces and Communist Party “eliminated a major hidden political danger”, China’s military mouthpiece said on Wednesday. The party expelled Zhang Youxia, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and fellow former CMC member Liu Zhenli for factionalism and disloyalty, state media reported on Monday. The CMC is the…",
  "key_points": [
    "PLA Daily declares expulsion of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli eliminates major political danger",
    "Zhang and Liu removed for factionalism and disloyalty in Chinese military and Communist Party",
    "Editorial praises military purity, highlights anti-corruption achievements since 2012"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/pla-chiefs-downfall-eliminated-political-danger-military-mouthpiece-9299088",
        "published": "2026-09-23T08:01:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}