China's official announcement declared that Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member and Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli are under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. On the 25th, the CCP's PLA Daily commented that the two had severely betrayed their trust and responsibilities, and gravely undermined and trampled upon the Chairman responsibility system of the CMC.
Five Out of Seven Central Military Commission Leaders Have Fallen
As of now, of the seven-member leadership team of the 20th Central Military Commission formed in 2022, five have fallen from power, leaving only Chairman Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin.
Zhang Youxia is the fourth CMC Vice Chairman to be taken down since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. Previously, Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, and He Weidong also fell from power.
On the 25th, the PLA Daily published an editorial on its front page, pointing out that the investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for alleged serious violations once again shows that the CCP Central Committee and the CMC have no forbidden zone, cover, or tolerance in punishing corruption. It solemnly proclaims a firm stance that no matter who it is or how high their position, there will be no leniency for corruption.
Ensuring the Military's High Degree of Unity and Purity
The editorial states that resolutely investigating Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli “is a major achievement in the Party and military’s fight against corruption, and is an important manifestation of the Party and the military’s determination and strength. It has significant meaning for winning the tough, protracted, and overall battle against corruption in the military.” All officers and soldiers of the armed forces must firmly support the CCP Central Committee’s decision, consciously maintain a high level of unity in ideology, politics, and action with “the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core,” resolutely obey the command of the CCP Central Committee, the CMC, and Xi Jinping, ensuring the military’s high degree of unity and consolidation.
The editorial mentioned the reasons for Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli's fall, stating that as senior officials of the Party and military, they seriously betrayed the trust and responsibility placed in them by the CCP Central Committee and CMC, severely trampled upon and undermined the Chairman responsibility system of the CMC, greatly fueled political and corrupt issues affecting the Party's absolute leadership of the military and endangering the Party's foundations of governance, gravely damaged the image and prestige of the CMC leadership, seriously undermined the political and ideological foundation for unity and progress among all officers and soldiers, caused tremendous harm to the political strengthening, political environment, and combat readiness of the military, and wrought extremely negative impacts on the Party, the country, and the armed forces.
Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli's last public appearance was on December 22 of last year, attending a CMC ceremony for the promotion to General.