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China has expelled two of its most senior generals from the ruling Communist Party and the military over what authorities called “serious discipline and law violations,” state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau approved the expulsions of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli after reviewing reports submitted by the Central Military Commission, according to Xinhua.
Senior military leaders removed
Zhang, 75, was a member of the party’s Politburo and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Liu was a commission member and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.
China’s top legislature removed both men from the Central Military Commission last month after investigations were opened against them. The Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 24 that they were being investigated for suspected “serious discipline and law violations.”
The commission, headed by President Xi Jinping, exercises overall command over the People’s Liberation Army. Zhang had been China’s highest-ranking uniformed military officer.
Expulsions follow anti-corruption drive
The PLA Daily previously accused the two generals of undermining Xi’s authority and the Communist Party’s leadership over the armed forces, as well as damaging the military’s combat effectiveness.
Their removal follows investigations and expulsions involving several other senior military officials, including former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and former Central Military Commission members He Weidong and Miao Hua, as Beijing continues its anti-corruption campaign in the armed forces.
