China Removes Top General, Military Faces Turmoil and Taiwan Questions

The removal of one of China’s most senior military figures has sent shockwaves through the country’s armed forces and raised fresh questions about Beijing’s intentions toward Taiwan. China’s Defence Ministry said on Saturday that Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and long regarded as a close ally of President Xi Jinping, is under investigation for serious “violations of discipline and law.”

Another senior officer, Gen. Liu Zhenli, who oversaw the Joint Staff Department, is also being investigated. While authorities offered no specific details, a subsequent editorial in the military’s official Liberation Army Daily suggested accusations of corruption and political disloyalty, saying the two officers had “seriously trampled on and undermined” the system of leadership under Xi, causing “immense harm” to combat readiness.

The apparent fall from grace of Zhang, once seen as “untouchable,” has been interpreted by analysts as a powerful signal from Xi. “This is a reminder coming directly from President Xi Jinping, that political loyalty stands well before combat readiness,” said Alessandro Arduino of the Royal United Services Institute.

“Political disloyalty is a cardinal sin inside the party… I think the message is extremely clear, no one is safe.” Observers note that Xi could have allowed the 75-year-old general to retire quietly, but instead chose to permit what Arduino called “a huge political accusation” against a longtime confidant, underscoring the scale of the purge.

The investigation fits into a broader anti-corruption campaign that has intensified within China’s military in recent years, with multiple generals and former defence ministers removed. However, Zhang’s case stands out due to his seniority and close relationship with Xi. “This is really almost Shakespearean,” said Jonathan Czin of the Brookings Institution, adding, “This is somebody that Xi has had a decades-long relationship with.” With only one of the six generals Xi appointed to the military commission in 2022 still in place, analysts say the president has consolidated power but at the cost of reducing dissenting voices at the top.

That concentration of authority has fueled concern over Taiwan. Steve Tsang of SOAS University of London warned that removing experienced figures like Zhang could make military miscalculation more likely.

“Removing generals like Zhang means that there will not be any general who would dare to advise Xi against a military adventure when the time comes,” he said, adding that the world is now “less safe.” Taiwanese officials say they are closely monitoring what they describe as “abnormal” changes in China’s military leadership, as Beijing continues regular drills around the self-ruled island and maintains its long-stated goal of reunification.