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Zhang Youxia

The latest news on Chinese politician Zhang Youxia, including political stories and updates.

Born

Jul 1950

Industry

Politics, Military

Job Title

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China

As the CMC’s senior vice-chairman, Zhang was the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Chinese military before his downfall. Photo: EPA

Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

China strips former generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of top military positions

Zhang and Liu have been under investigation since January for alleged failures of discipline.

29 Aug 2026 - 1:12PM

Corruption in China

New batch of officers quietly takes helm of PLA after anti-corruption drive

5 Aug 2026 - 2:39PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Why is China’s Communist Party intent on control over the military?

2 Aug 2026 - 6:04AMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

China’s plenum plan reveals focus on party discipline ahead of 2027 congress

Politburo calls on Central Committee to draw on the ‘valuable experience’ from the anti-corruption campaign.

30 Jul 2026 - 8:09PMvideocam

The plenum is the most important political meeting ahead of next year’s party congress, when Xi Jinping is due to begin a fourth term as leader. Photo: EPA

China’s Communist Party

China’s top military officials face ‘ironclad’ rules in anti-corruption fight

Measures cover education, management and supervision of senior cadres and coincide with emphasis on study of Xi Jinping Thought.

28 May 2026 - 8:23PMvideocam

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Exclusive | Will US defence strategy architect Colby pave the way for Hegseth’s China visit?

Sources say the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy could arrive in Beijing ‘within weeks’ to finalise arrangements for defence chief’s trip.

21 May 2026 - 9:36PMvideocam

Mainland China

Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive

China needs a powerful military force to defend national interests at home and abroad. Tolerance of corruption is incompatible with that goal.

10 May 2026 - 6:45AM

Former Chinese defence ministers Li Shangfu (left) and Wei Fenghe were sentenced on Thursday after being found guilty of corruption. Photo composite: AP and Reuters

Corruption in China

Fate of China’s ex-defence heads shows party won’t allow disloyalty: state media

Editorial from Chinese military’s official newspaper marks the first time that Li Shangfu has been labelled a traitor.

9 May 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

Badminton World Federation (BWF)

China’s anti-corruption body probes badminton association chief Zhang Jun

Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, who is also vice-president of Nanjing Sport Institute, has been placed ‘under disciplinary review’.

29 Apr 2026 - 9:48PM

China’s military

Chinese rocket force scientist Major General Feng Yufang dies aged 63

Feng advocated for self-reliance, once saying ‘core technologies cannot be bought and relying on imports will not get us far’.

15 Apr 2026 - 12:00PMvideocam

Chinese state media announced on Tuesday that Major General Feng Yufang, a leading missile scientist with the PLA Rocket Force, had died aged 63. Photo: Handout

China’s Communist Party

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

3 Apr 2026 - 7:53PMvideocam

Ma Xingrui abruptly stepped down as party boss of Xinjiang in July and has missed several key events since November. Photo: AP

US-China relations

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

Beijing seeks to control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community confirms in its annual report on global threats.

20 Mar 2026 - 3:12AMvideocam

China's military weapons

J-20 fighter jet designer scrubbed from Chinese Academy of Sciences website

Yang Wei has not appeared in public for more than a year, and it comes amid an anti-corruption campaign in the defence sector.

19 Mar 2026 - 8:33AMvideocam

Science

Top Chinese nuclear, radar and missile experts vanish from engineering body site

Former CAE vice-president Zhao Xiangeng is among a number of academicians no longer profiled on the body’s website.

15 Mar 2026 - 8:56PMvideocam

The profiles of (from left) Wu Manqing, Zhao Xiangeng, and Wei Yiyin have disappeared from the website of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Photo: Handout

China’s Communist Party

Xi Jinping’s zero-fail mission for China’s military: total loyalty, no corruption

President underlines his strict ideological line to the PLA’s diminished delegation to the NPC.

7 Mar 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

The PLA’s delegation to the NPC has shrunk from 281 members in 2023 to 243 this year. Photo: Reuters

Two Sessions 2026

China’s last CMC general standing urges more ‘political rectification’ for PLA

Combat readiness and loyalty to Xi Jinping also highlighted in Central Military Commission vice-chairman’s remarks at ‘two sessions’.

6 Mar 2026 - 5:52PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2026

Takeaways from Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s government work report

Li raises the curtain on the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a series of targets for the economy.

5 Mar 2026 - 4:18PMvideocam

Corruption in China

China’s war on corruption – is this just the end of the beginning?

More ‘tigers’ are being culled than ever before in a campaign that could be becoming the new normal.

4 Mar 2026 - 6:05AMvideocam

China’s military

After Zhang Youxia’s downfall, PLA told to be more mindful of spending

State media also spotlights deep flaws in PLA’s readiness that have surfaced during country’s widening anti-corruption drive.

13 Feb 2026 - 12:40PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

What is China’s Central Military Commission and how does it function?

The downfall of two more members of the top command body has left just Xi Jinping and one other member active.

13 Feb 2026 - 3:12PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

China’s military command tightens discipline at the top in generals’ wake

Revised rules are meant to close loopholes, PLA mouthpiece says, two weeks after Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s downfall.

7 Feb 2026 - 8:48PMvideocam

China has tightened rules on party discipline within the military. Photo: Xinhua

China’s military drills

China’s military cracks down on training ‘fakery’ after Zhang Youxia’s ousting

PLA plans to crack down on ‘fakery that undermines combat capability’, soon after top generals placed under corruption investigation.

6 Feb 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

The PLA plans to tackle “deep-seated problems” with its training and drills. Photo: Xinhua

Corruption in China

China expels defence officials from legislature amid corruption crackdown

Three senior executives removed from National People’s Congress without explanation could face disciplinary action or criminal charges.

5 Feb 2026 - 2:10AMvideocam

Corruption in China

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

4 Feb 2026 - 6:14AMvideocam

Corruption in China

Zhang Youxia probe to end ‘watered-down’ military capability: PLA Daily

Investigation and in-depth political rectification to bring in new atmosphere and positive spirit, commentary in official military paper says.

2 Feb 2026 - 8:03PMvideocam

The official PLA Daily has urged China’s armed forces to “resolutely carry on the fight against corruption through to the end”. Photo: Xinhua

Corruption in China

China’s military redoubles corruption fight in wake of Zhang Youxia’s downfall

PLA mouthpiece warns troops not to be blindly optimistic or totally pessimistic about winning the war against graft.

31 Jan 2026 - 8:56PMvideocam

Corruption is the first killer of combat ability, according to a new PLA Daily commentary. Photo: Xinhua

South China Sea

China says Philippines is stoking tensions with Scarborough Shoal drill

Manila reportedly issued a notice warning of military exercises across a wide area of the South China Sea until the end of March.

30 Jan 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

Former Inner Mongolia party chief, veterans minister investigated for corruption

Sun Shaocheng’s downfall is announced days after investigations into China’s top-ranking general Zhang Youxia.

30 Jan 2026 - 2:53PMvideocam

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Zhang Youxia

China strips former generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli of top military positions

Zhang and Liu have been under investigation since January for alleged failures of discipline.

New batch of officers quietly takes helm of PLA after anti-corruption drive

Why is China’s Communist Party intent on control over the military?

China’s plenum plan reveals focus on party discipline ahead of 2027 congress

Politburo calls on Central Committee to draw on the ‘valuable experience’ from the anti-corruption campaign.

China’s top military officials face ‘ironclad’ rules in anti-corruption fight

Measures cover education, management and supervision of senior cadres and coincide with emphasis on study of Xi Jinping Thought.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | Will US defence strategy architect Colby pave the way for Hegseth’s China visit?

Sources say the Pentagon’s undersecretary for policy could arrive in Beijing ‘within weeks’ to finalise arrangements for defence chief’s trip.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive

China needs a powerful military force to defend national interests at home and abroad. Tolerance of corruption is incompatible with that goal.

Fate of China’s ex-defence heads shows party won’t allow disloyalty: state media

Editorial from Chinese military’s official newspaper marks the first time that Li Shangfu has been labelled a traitor.

China’s anti-corruption body probes badminton association chief Zhang Jun

Olympic gold medallist Zhang Jun, who is also vice-president of Nanjing Sport Institute, has been placed ‘under disciplinary review’.

Chinese rocket force scientist Major General Feng Yufang dies aged 63

Feng advocated for self-reliance, once saying ‘core technologies cannot be bought and relying on imports will not get us far’.

Ma Xingrui becomes China’s third Politburo member investigated for corruption

Former Communist Party chief of Xinjiang is under investigation for ‘serious violations of discipline and law’, according to state news agency Xinhua.

US says mainland China has no plans to attack Taiwan in 2027

Beijing seeks to control the island without the use of force, the US intelligence community confirms in its annual report on global threats.

J-20 fighter jet designer scrubbed from Chinese Academy of Sciences website

Yang Wei has not appeared in public for more than a year, and it comes amid an anti-corruption campaign in the defence sector.

Top Chinese nuclear, radar and missile experts vanish from engineering body site

Former CAE vice-president Zhao Xiangeng is among a number of academicians no longer profiled on the body’s website.

Xi Jinping’s zero-fail mission for China’s military: total loyalty, no corruption

President underlines his strict ideological line to the PLA’s diminished delegation to the NPC.

China’s last CMC general standing urges more ‘political rectification’ for PLA

Combat readiness and loyalty to Xi Jinping also highlighted in Central Military Commission vice-chairman’s remarks at ‘two sessions’.

Takeaways from Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s government work report

Li raises the curtain on the annual session of the National People’s Congress with a series of targets for the economy.

China’s war on corruption – is this just the end of the beginning?

More ‘tigers’ are being culled than ever before in a campaign that could be becoming the new normal.

After Zhang Youxia’s downfall, PLA told to be more mindful of spending

State media also spotlights deep flaws in PLA’s readiness that have surfaced during country’s widening anti-corruption drive.

What is China’s Central Military Commission and how does it function?

The downfall of two more members of the top command body has left just Xi Jinping and one other member active.

China’s military command tightens discipline at the top in generals’ wake

Revised rules are meant to close loopholes, PLA mouthpiece says, two weeks after Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s downfall.

China’s military cracks down on training ‘fakery’ after Zhang Youxia’s ousting

PLA plans to crack down on ‘fakery that undermines combat capability’, soon after top generals placed under corruption investigation.

China expels defence officials from legislature amid corruption crackdown

Three senior executives removed from National People’s Congress without explanation could face disciplinary action or criminal charges.

What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

Investigations into China’s top military commanders have raised questions about the PLA’s battle readiness.

Zhang Youxia probe to end ‘watered-down’ military capability: PLA Daily

Investigation and in-depth political rectification to bring in new atmosphere and positive spirit, commentary in official military paper says.

China’s military redoubles corruption fight in wake of Zhang Youxia’s downfall

PLA mouthpiece warns troops not to be blindly optimistic or totally pessimistic about winning the war against graft.

China says Philippines is stoking tensions with Scarborough Shoal drill

Manila reportedly issued a notice warning of military exercises across a wide area of the South China Sea until the end of March.

Former Inner Mongolia party chief, veterans minister investigated for corruption

Sun Shaocheng’s downfall is announced days after investigations into China’s top-ranking general Zhang Youxia.

Exclusive | Will US defence strategy architect Colby pave the way for Hegseth’s China visit?

Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive