Summary
China has removed its top military general, Zhang Youxia, and another senior officer in what is being called an "anti-corruption" campaign. This has left a significant gap in leadership within the Chinese military, specifically the Central Military Commission, which is now mainly controlled by President Xi Jinping and one other general.
Key Facts
- China removed its top military general, Zhang Youxia, and another senior officer, Gen Liu Zhenli.
- Zhang was vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), an influential body overseeing the armed forces.
- The CMC traditionally has around seven members, but now it has been reduced to just Xi Jinping and one other general.
- The removals are part of an "anti-corruption" crackdown, although the specifics of the accusations are not detailed.
- These actions have caused significant uncertainty and speculation about the stability and effectiveness of China's military leadership.
- The official stance is that Zhang and Liu were involved in "serious violations of discipline and law," a term often used to mean corruption.
- There is speculation about other possible reasons, including political motives, behind these high-profile purges.
