On February 2, 2026, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and Commission Member Liu Zhenli were officially removed from their positions on January 24. Following this announcement, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) newspaper published a political commentary the next day to provide a political context, after which the related propaganda activities fell silent. Starting from January 31, the PLA newspaper consecutively criticized Zhang and Liu for three days, with the latest article on February 2 urging officers and soldiers to understand the overall situation and not to be distracted. Analysts believe that investigations into Zhang and Liu may lead to resistance among military personnel.
On February 2, the PLA newspaper published a commentary article naming Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli again, claiming that “dealing with corrupt elements like Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli” is a move to eliminate “roadblocks and stumbling blocks” and to remove the “excessive water” from military construction efforts. It called for officers and soldiers to unify their thoughts and actions with the decisions made by the central authority headed by Xi Jinping, understanding the anti-corruption trends, and to “focus all thoughts and energy on strengthening the military for victory,” among other points.
Before this, on January 31, the PLA newspaper had a front-page headline article criticizing Zhang and Liu for corruption and urging the military to support the decisions made by the so-called “Central Party.”
In an article on February 1, the PLA newspaper stated, “Severely dealing with Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli” demonstrates the determination to win the anti-corruption struggle, emphasizing the importance of persistence in the overall battle.
Political commentator Li Lin commented that the consecutive articles published by the PLA newspaper, from summoning military support for the investigation of Zhang and Liu to clarifications and finally urging an understanding of the larger situation, indicate the unrest caused by the investigation of Zhang and Liu, leaving military personnel unable to focus on training. Understanding the broader situation often reflects internal dissent or resistance to central decisions.
On January 31, when the PLA newspaper criticized Zhang Youxia, Taiwanese Defense Security Research Institute researcher Shen Mingshi analyzed that the PLA has always advocated or emphasized whatever was lacking. In the silence following the investigation, the article against Zhang and Liu, particularly given such prominent placement, is an indication of the unstable morale within the military.
Until now, institutions like the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, major combat zones, military departments, and military academies have not expressed support for the central decision to investigate Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Information from the PLA’s websites indicates that some combat zones and military units, such as a certain division of the Armed Police, the 82nd Group Army responsible for safeguarding the capital, and the Beijing Garrison, are engaging in political studies focused on “Xi Jinping’s military thought.”
The impact of Zhang Youxia’s removal on Xi Jinping’s rule remains a subject of external interest.
Dennis Wilder, a former China analyst at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, wrote in the Financial Times that Zhang Youxia’s downfall has sparked internal party doubts about Xi Jinping’s leadership.
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, China expert Yu Maochun remarked on Zhang Youxia’s removal, highlighting how the communist system requires constant suspicion of lower-ranking officials’ loyalty. “In a communist dictatorship, the greatest crime is not corruption or incompetence but making the top leader lose sleep,” he wrote.
Kou Jianwen, a professor at the Department of Political Science and the Institute of East Asian Studies at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, expressed concern at a recent panel discussion on Chinese politics. He pointed out that the ongoing cleansing within the PLA may destabilize military morale and cause internal dissatisfaction among senior military and CCP leaders, potentially eroding Xi Jinping’s prestige. Jinping’s distancing from longstanding confidants, despite possible replacements, may lead to his increasing isolation in the future.