In a series of recent events within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia was officially ousted on January 24, 2026. In the span of less than two months before and after this, at least ten high-ranking military officials have passed away. Among them are Zhang Youxia, senior leaders of the CCP, including General Wei Fulin and General Liao Xilong, as well as three other major generals, four brigadier generals, and a retired deputy corps-level officer.
According to a report from CCP’s official media Xinhua News Agency on February 28, 2026, Senior General Xu Ruichen, a retired officer at the rank of Major General and former Director of the Political Department of the National Defense Science and Technology Committee, passed away in Beijing on February 12, 2026, at the age of 95.
Xu Ruichen had previously served as the Deputy Political Commissar and Director of the Political Department at the CCP’s nuclear test base research institute. He was promoted to Senior General in 1993 after being elected as a delegate to the 14th National Congress of the CCP.
On January 25, 2026, Senior General Wang Tailan, a retired officer who had previously served as Deputy Minister of the General Logistics Department, passed away in Beijing at the age of 86.
Wang Tailan held positions such as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Jiangsu Military Region, as well as Deputy Minister and Minister of the Logistics Department of the Nanjing Military Region. He was promoted to Senior General in 1994 after being elected as a delegate to the 15th National Congress of the CCP.
The CCP’s Xinhua News Agency reported on January 19, 2026, that Navy Rear Admiral Wang Zheng, a retiree who had served as Deputy Political Commissar, passed away in Beijing on January 3, 2026, at the age of 64.
Wang Zheng had held various positions such as Political Commissar of the Air Force Equipment Research Institute, Director of the Air Force Political Department of the Jinan Military Region, and Director of the Navy Political Work Department. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in the Air Force in 2013 and to Vice Admiral in the Navy in 2019.
According to reports by The Paper, retired Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the National Defense University, Zhou Erjun, passed away in Beijing on February 27, 2026, at the age of 93. Zhou Erjun, the nephew of former CCP Premier Zhou Enlai, was promoted to Major General in 1988.
Additionally, retired Navy Vice Admiral and former Deputy Political Commissar of the East Sea Fleet, Wei Zhiguo, passed away in Shanghai on January 16, 2026, at the age of 97. Wei Zhiguo had served in various positions within the Navy, including Deputy Political Commissar and Political Commissar at the Guangzhou Naval Base.
Navy Rear Admiral and retired officer in regular army positions, former Deputy Commander of the Navy Aviation Branch Huang Maojiang, passed away in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on January 15, 2026, at the age of 81. Huang Maojiang had served as the Commander of the Aviation Branch of the North Sea Fleet and the East Sea Fleet of the Navy.
Retired officer in regular army positions and former Dean of the PLA Academy of International Relations, Gu Zhanhong, passed away in Shanghai on January 24, 2026, at the age of 93. Gu Zhanhong had held various positions within the military, including Chief of Staff and Deputy Political Commissar, and had been promoted to Major General in 1988.
Retired Deputy Political Commissar of the Beijing Garrison, Wu Zhonghui, passed away in Beijing on January 6, 2026, at the age of 102. Wu Zhonghui had served in various leadership roles within the military, including Chief of Staff, Deputy Political Commissar, and Political Commissar.
The absence of Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and Commission Member Liu Zhenli from the opening ceremony of a CCP provincial-level high-ranking official seminar on January 20, 2026, was followed by rumors of their involvement in an incident leading to their arrest. Zhang Youxia was subsequently officially ousted on January 24, 2026.
In the aftermath of Zhang Youxia’s arrest, the deaths of two senior leaders, CCP Generals Wei Fulin and Liao Xilong, were not publicly announced until six days to half a month later, sparking speculation among outside observers.
Xinhua News Agency reported on January 29 and 30, 2026, that former Commission Member of the Central Military Commission and former Minister of the General Logistics Department Liao Xilong passed away in Beijing on January 23, 2026, at the age of 85 due to illness. Former Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Wei Fulin, passed away in Beijing on January 15, 2026, at the age of 88 due to illness.
Public records show that Wei Fulin served as the Commander of the Chengdu Military Region from December 1994 to August 1995. Liao Xilong was appointed the First Deputy Commander of the Chengdu Military Region in June 1985 and served as the Commander of the Chengdu Military Region from 1995 to November 2002. During this time, Zhang Youxia served under Wei Fulin and Liao Xilong, first as the Deputy Commander and then as the Commander of the 13th Group Army of the Chengdu Military Region. Both Wei Fulin and Liao Xilong had participated in the Vietnam War.
According to revelations by political commentator Cai Shenkun, Zhang Youxia was reportedly arrested on January 19, 2026. The following day, both the son and brother of Liao Xilong were also reportedly arrested. Despite numerous phone calls, Liao Xilong was unable to ascertain who had been arrested. Subsequently, on January 23, Liao Xilong passed away suddenly. Sources close to the matter suggest that Liao Xilong’s death was not due to illness but possibly a result of being frightened to death or driven to despair.