China Investigates Two Top Military Officials in Ongoing Anti-Corruption Drive

China announced on Saturday that two senior military officials, including the vice chairman of its powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), are under investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline,” a term commonly used to refer to corruption.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement, “Following a review… it has been decided to initiate an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.” The ministry added that both men were “suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law.”

Zhang Youxia, 75, is one of two vice chairmen of the CMC, the top military body in China, which reports directly to President Xi Jinping. Zhang holds a senior position alongside Zhang Shengmin, who leads Beijing’s strategic rocket force. The two men are not related. Zhang Shengmin was promoted to vice chairman in October following the removal of his predecessor in another corruption investigation.

Liu Zhenli, 61, serves as chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department, which oversees the operational coordination of the People’s Liberation Army. Both Zhang and Liu rank just below Xi, who has held the CMC chairmanship since 2012.

The announcement is the latest development in a wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign that President Xi has pursued since coming to power more than a decade ago. The campaign has targeted officials at all levels of the Chinese Communist Party and state institutions, including top military leaders, provincial officials, and senior bureaucrats. Analysts say the campaign has reshaped China’s political and military landscape, consolidating Xi’s control while aiming to curb graft that could undermine the party’s authority and operational efficiency.

This latest probe comes amid a series of investigations in the military over the past few years. In October, Zhang Shengmin took office following the expulsion of his predecessor during another anti-corruption sweep. The move signaled the continued focus on rooting out alleged misconduct at the highest echelons of the armed forces.

Zhang Youxia has had a long military career and is considered a veteran leader within the PLA hierarchy. Liu Zhenli, as chief of staff of the joint staff department, plays a key role in planning and coordinating operations across China’s military branches. Both positions are critical to the functioning of the PLA and the implementation of Xi’s military modernization goals.

China has not provided further details about the alleged violations or the timing of the investigation. Previous anti-corruption cases in the military have often led to prosecutions, demotions, or expulsions from the party, reflecting the seriousness with which the leadership treats such charges.

The investigations into Zhang and Liu underscore the continuing reach of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign into the upper echelons of China’s armed forces and the government, highlighting the leadership’s ongoing effort to tighten discipline and maintain loyalty among senior officials.