On January 24th, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Zhang Youxia, and the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, Liu Zhenli, were suddenly announced to have been removed from their positions. There have been widespread rumors that Zhang and Liu were arrested for attempting a failed coup, along with 16 other high-ranking PLA officers who were also detained, signaling a new wave of purges within the top ranks of the Chinese military. Since Xi Jinping came to power, there have been several rounds of large-scale purges within the top echelons of the CPC military.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun posted on X on January 23rd, stating that the news of the arrest of Zhang Youxia and 17 other senior officers, including General Liu Zhenli, General Xiao Tianliang, and Major General Zhong Shaojun, was absolutely accurate. It is expected that a large number of other senior officers, including majors, lieutenant generals, and even regimental-level officers will also be arrested.
On January 24th, the military publication officially announced Zhang Youxia’s removal and swiftly published an article to frame the issue, emphasizing the need to “purify politically and cleanse ideologically,” promoting a “rebirth through transformation” of the military.
Some analysts believe that Zhang Youxia, who had considerable power within the military for a long time, suddenly being purged by Xi Jinping, could lead to unrest within the military and possibly even incite a coup. If Zhang’s faction is defeated, it could trigger another brutal round of purges aimed at “eliminating the remnants of Zhang and Liu.”
Journalist Wei Lingling of The Wall Street Journal also posted on social media X, saying, “This is far from over. Under Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s leadership, thousands of officers were promoted to high ranks, and now they realize they are the primary targets of systematic purges.”
Leading up to the announcement of Zhang Youxia’s removal, there were already signs of unusual activity within the CPC military. Zhang’s conspicuous absence from the opening ceremony of a training session for provincial and ministerial-level officials after the event on January 16, 2026, was followed by an expanded meeting of the CCP discipline inspection committee. Footage from CCTV showed that only two generals attended the 2026 expanded committee meeting, with General Zhang Shenmin seated at the main table and another senior general, Commander of the Central Theater Command Han Shengyan, sitting below the stage.
Han Shengyan was promoted to general in December 2025. Among the 14 generals who attended the expanded committee meeting in January 2025, only Zhang Shenmin was present at the January 2026 meeting.
Since Xi Jinping came to power, there have been several rounds of purges within the CPC military. Zhang Youxia’s removal has heralded a new wave of purges. Former Inner Mongolia official Du Wen stated that both Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission and the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC have been removed by Xi Jinping, setting a new record in the Party’s history for the thoroughness of purges within the military system.