China Probes Top Military General in Rare Corruption Investigation

China has announced a corruption investigation into Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s most senior military figures, marking an unusually high-level move within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Zhang, a vice-chair of the Central Military Commission, has long been regarded as a key pillar of the Chinese military leadership. The decision to place him under investigation signals that President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign has reached the very top of the armed forces, an area traditionally shielded from public scrutiny.

Since coming to power, Xi has pursued a sweeping anti-graft drive across the party, state, and military, arguing that corruption threatens the Communist Party’s authority and the PLA’s combat readiness. While hundreds of officers have been disciplined over the past decade, probes involving the most senior commanders remain rare, underscoring the political sensitivity of the current case.

Analysts say the investigation reflects Xi’s determination to tighten civil-military control and ensure absolute loyalty to the party leadership. The PLA has undergone major reforms in recent years, including structural reorganisation and efforts to modernise its capabilities, making internal discipline a central priority for Beijing.

At the same time, the move has prompted questions about morale and stability within the military. Removing or sidelining a figure of Zhang’s stature could disrupt promotion pipelines and decision-making at a critical moment, as China faces heightened strategic competition with the United States and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Internationally, the probe will be closely watched for what it reveals about power dynamics in Beijing. While Chinese officials frame the investigation as part of routine discipline enforcement, it also highlights how Xi continues to consolidate authority by asserting control over the country’s most powerful institutions, including the armed forces.