China: Expels Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli Over Corruption

• China's Communist Party expelled high-ranking generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli on Monday following investigations into "serious violations of the law."
• Zhang Youxia, previously the highest-ranking general and a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was perceived to be close to President Xi Jinping.
• The investigation found they accepted "exceptionally large sums of money," formed cliques, and used their positions for personal gain and job promotion.
• Their cases will now be transferred to military legal organs for review and prosecution, underscoring China's ongoing anti-corruption drive.
• This expulsion, which still requires Central Committee ratification, reaffirms the Party's stance against corruption within the military.

Zhang Youxia's removal, in particular, sent shockwaves through observers, given his elevated status as China's highest-ranking general and the widespread perception of his close ties to President Xi.

China's ruling Communist Party announced on Monday the expulsion of two high-ranking military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, following months of investigation into what authorities termed "serious violations of the law." Zhang Youxia held a particularly prominent position as the more senior of two vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, effectively making him the nation's highest-ranking general. The expulsions signify a significant development in the ongoing efforts to enforce discipline within the Chinese military.

The official Xinhua News Agency, providing details for the first time, reported that the investigations uncovered cases involving "exceptionally large sums of money." The inquiry concluded that both Zhang and Liu had "become disloyal to the Party" and "crossed red lines" by engaging in various offenses. These included forming cliques and accepting substantial financial benefits for personal gain, as well as leveraging their official capacities to facilitate job promotions for others. Following the decision by top officials in Beijing, their cases are now slated for transfer to the military’s legal organs for further "review and prosecution."

These high-profile expulsions are consistent with the sweeping Chinese anti-corruption drive that has been a defining feature of President Xi Jinping's time in power. The campaign, often referred to as the Xi Jinping anti-graft campaign, has relentlessly targeted officials across all levels of government and the military, aiming to consolidate power and reinforce strict adherence to Communist Party principles. The Defense Ministry had previously indicated in January that Zhang and Liu were "suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law," a phrase commonly used as a euphemism for corruption within the Chinese political and military system.

Zhang Youxia's removal, in particular, sent shockwaves through observers, given his elevated status as China's highest-ranking general and the widespread perception of his close ties to President Xi. This development underscores the relentless nature of the Chinese anti-corruption drive, indicating that even the most senior figures are not immune from scrutiny. Preceding their formal expulsion from the Communist Party, both Zhang and Liu had already been stripped of their positions on the state Central Military Commission last month.

The decision to expel Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Communist Party on Monday, as reported by state media, represents a critical step in their ongoing legal and political process. While the expulsion has been announced, it is not yet fully effective, as it requires ratification at a plenary session of the party’s Central Committee. This procedural step highlights the internal mechanisms of the Party in handling such severe disciplinary actions.

Official pronouncements from Xinhua emphasized that the investigation found the two generals had not only accepted "huge sums of money" but also "used their positions to help others in matters such as job promotion," underscoring a profound breach of trust and severe China military discipline violations. Xinhua also conveyed the Party's firm stance, stating that the decision "reaffirms the firm position that ... there is absolutely no place for corrupt elements to hide within the military," signaling a continued commitment to eradicating corruption within China's armed forces. The transfer of their cases to the military's legal organs for "review and prosecution" indicates that criminal proceedings are expected to follow their political expulsion, potentially leading to further legal consequences for Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.

Source: Original reporting via AFP and Xinhua News Agency