Former top PLA generals expelled from Communist Party for factionalism and disloyalty

The Communist Party accused former military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of factionalism and disloyalty, expelling them from the party and the armed forces following a Politburo meeting on Monday, state media reported.

Zhang was once a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the highest-ranking uniformed member of the Chinese military, second only to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The CMC is China’s top military decision-making body.

Zhang was also a member of the Communist Party’s 24-member Politburo.

Liu was a CMC member as well and formerly served as chief of its Joint Staff Department.