China investigating top general over serious violations, says defence ministry

China’s defense ministry announced on Saturday that the country’s top general is under investigation. This marks a significant move as Beijing modernizes its military and seeks to enhance its global influence. Zhang Youxia, who is the vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and serves directly under President Xi Jinping, has long been viewed as Xi’s closest ally in the military. The ministry revealed that both Zhang and Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff for the Joint Staff Department of the CMC, are being investigated for serious breaches of discipline and law. Zhang is also a member of the Politburo, the ruling Communist Party's elite group, and is among a select few military leaders with combat experience. This investigation is part of a larger anti-corruption campaign that Xi initiated in 2012, which has specifically targeted the military. In 2023, this crackdown reached higher levels within the People’s Liberation Army, including the elite Rocket Force. Zhang’s case marks the second time a sitting general from the Central Military Commission has been removed since the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976. He has not appeared in public since November 20, when he met with Russia’s defense minister in Moscow. Observers, including foreign diplomats and security analysts, are closely monitoring this situation due to Zhang’s strong ties to Xi and the crucial role of the commission in overseeing military operations and the ongoing modernization of the PLA in Sri Lanka and beyond.