China Removes 2 Top Military Officials

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Chinese authorities have announced an investigation into two of the country’s most senior military officials, accusing them of suspected “serious violations of discipline and law,” according to a Jan. 24 statement from China’s defense ministry.

The officials named were Zhang Youxia, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, a member of the CMC who also serves as chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC.

The defense ministry statement said Zhang and Liu are “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law,” and that authorities have decided to file a case for review and investigation into both men.

The statement said the decision followed a probe by the Party Central Committee, suggesting the move carries political weight in a system where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains direct control over the armed forces.

The defense ministry did not provide further details about the nature of the alleged violations, nor did it specify whether the investigation involved corruption, abuse of power, political disloyalty, or other forms of misconduct often cited in Chinese disciplinary cases.

There was no indication in the statement of a timeline for the investigation or potential disciplinary outcomes.

The episode sparked speculation among analysts, some of whom noted that newly promoted CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin and Defense Minister Dong Jun were shown attending the seminar, sharpening attention on senior figures who were not seen in the footage.

China Central Television reported that the seminar for provincial- and ministerial-level officials related to the CCP’s 20th Central Committee Fourth Plenum opened on Jan. 20 at the Central Party School in Beijing, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping delivered a speech.

Footage aired by the state-run broadcaster appeared to show multiple high-ranking officials missing from the seminar, including Zhang and Liu.

Other absences noted by analysts included Shi Taifeng, head of the CCP’s Central Organization Department; former Xinjiang Party Secretary Ma Xingrui; and Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Chinese authorities confirmed that He attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23, providing a public explanation for his absence.

However, no official reason was given at the time for the absences of Zhang and Liu, adding to speculation among observers and highlighting the opacity of China’s internal power dynamics.

Australia-based China studies scholar Feng Chongyi told The Epoch Times that coordinated absences of senior officials can sometimes indicate a purge, with Feng noting that Xi has repeatedly tightened control over elite factions and the military.

The CMC is the party’s top military command organ and sits at the center of Xi’s authority as commander-in-chief of the People’s Liberation Army.