According to CCTV News, Zhang Youxia, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, are suspected of serious violations of discipline and law. After research by the Party Central Committee, it has been decided to file a case and launch an investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
There were signs leading up to the investigation of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. At the provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres seminar held in Beijing on the 20th of this month, as shown on CCTV’s Xinwen Lianbo, both were absent for unknown reasons, sparking speculation from the outside world.
Zhang Youxia’s Father, Zhang Zongxun, Was a Founding General
75-year-old veteran Zhang Youxia is a "second-generation Red," the son of founding general Zhang Zongxun. Zhang Youxia was born in Beijing in 1950, hails from Shaanxi, and participated in the Sino-Vietnamese border wars twice, where he performed excellently, making him one of the rare senior officers with real combat experience in the Chinese military. He previously served as Commander of the Shenyang Military Region, became Minister of General Armaments after the 18th Party Congress in 2012, was promoted to Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission at the 19th Party Congress in 2017, and was re-elected at the 20th Party Congress in 2022.
Liu Zhenli, 61, is from Luancheng, Hebei. He has served as commander of the former 38th Group Army of the Beijing Military Region, chief of staff of the Armed Police Force, chief of staff of the Army, and Commander of the Army. In March 2023, he became Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission.
Only 2 Members Left in the 7-Person Central Military Commission Leadership Team
In the past two years and more, former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu, former Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission Miao Hua, and former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong have all successively fallen from power. Now with Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation, only 2 members remain from the current 7-person Central Military Commission leadership team.