China expels two top generals from party and military, alleging disloyalty

Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and the military, according to an official announcement on Monday. | REUTERS

REUTERS

Sep 22, 2026

BEIJING – China has expelled two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military, an official announcement showed on Monday, citing alleged disloyalty, corruption and other serious disciplinary breaches.

Zhang was second-in-command, under Chinese President Xi Jinping, as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) — the supreme command body for China’s armed forces — and has long been seen as Xi’s closest military ally. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.

Probes into Zhang and Liu were announced in January, with the pair removed from the state CMC in late August.

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