Top China general Zhang Youxia removed for ‘leaking’ nuclear-plan to US: Report

Both men are members of the all-important Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Tasked with managing overall defence administration, the CMC is headed by Xi himself. Following the latest investigation, the CMC is now at its lowest-ever strength, with just two of the seven spots currently filled — all other leaders have been purged.

The WSJ report also claimed that Zhang was accused of “accepting bribes”, including for the appointment of a former Defence Minister, and forming “political cliques” for cultivating influence. These charges are more in line with the kind of reasons that were cited for removing senior officials in China in the past — though the real motivations for such removals are often more complex, driven by internal politics and other factors.

For Xi, the latest purge marks the removal of one of the last few leaders of his generation who wielded significant influence in the top echelons of the country’s leadership structure.

The military purge comes at a time when China is increasingly asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea and along its southern border with India. It could also impact its calculations over the island of Taiwan, which China often mentions in terms of an inevitable “reunification”.