Chinese President Xi Jinping fired a top general, Zhang Youxia, who is now being investigated by law enforcement authorities for alleged corruption. Zhang, who was once one of Xi’s most trusted military allies, was accused of leaking nuclear secrets to the United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency or CIA.
This move is the latest in a series of actions by Xi to purge China’s senior military leadership.
Zhang who is now 75 years old, as reported Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and reported New York PostMonday (26/1/2026), allegedly leaked core technical data regarding China’s nuclear weapons to the US.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Zhang, who previously served as first-ranking deputy chairman of China’s Central Military Commission — the country’s highest command body, was officially placed under investigation on Saturday (24/1) local time.
Zhang is also a member of the influential Politburo, which is the Chinese Communist Party‘s executive body with 24 top officials. According to local Chinese media reports, Zhang was detained by Chinese military corruption investigating authorities since early last week.
Zhang was fired along with General Liu Zhenli, who previously served as Chief of Staff of China’s Central Military Commission.
Chinese Ministry of Defense, as reported Reutersonly said the two were being investigated for alleged disciplinary violations and serious legal violations, without going into detail. Meanwhile, Chinese state media accused Zhang and Liu of “threatening the absolute leadership of the Communist Party” and “undermining the system of supreme responsibility” in the hands of Xi.
Xi has reportedly sent a special task force to Shenyang, northeastern China, where Zhang was assigned before he was fired.
The special task force, the WSJ said in its report, chose to stay at local hotels, not at military bases, which were feared to have a support network for Zhang.
Apart from being accused of leaking important confidential information about China’s nuclear weapons, according to a WSJ report whose source was not mentioned, Zhang was also accused of forming groups that would erode the unity of the Chinese Communist Party.
Not only that, Zhang was also accused of accepting bribes in exchange for promotions, before leaking technical information to the CIA for personal gain.
Specifically, Zhang was accused of accepting bribes when promoting Li Shangfu to his previous position as China’s Minister of Defense.
Zhang, who comes from a lineage of Chinese communist heroes, is Xi’s childhood friend. His family has decades-long ties to the Xi family that date back to the Chinese Civil War.
Zhang and Liu are the fourth and fifth top Chinese military officials to be fired since 2024.
The investigation into Zhang and Liu comes after chaos enveloped the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force, which runs China’s nuclear triad, over the past year.
Zhang’s dismissal is seen as the biggest military reshuffle in China since 1971, when Deputy Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party Lin Biao attempted a coup against the Chairman of the Communist Party at the time, Mao Zedong.
Also watch the video “The Moment of Xi Jinping’s Meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Beijing”
Page 2 of 2
(nvc/dhn)
