Xi Jinping removes top general in major PLA shake-up
President Xi Jinping has dismissed General Zhang Youxia, one of China's most senior military leaders and a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), over alleged 'violations of discipline and law.' The official announcement provided no further details on the accusations. This move intensifies Xi's prolonged anti-corruption drive within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which has seen hundreds of senior officers investigated and dismissed since 2012. Zhang, 75, was a key figure in the PLA's modernization and one of the few top commanders with combat experience from the 1979 Vietnam conflict, and was believed to have longstanding personal ties to Xi. In a related development, Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department, is reportedly under investigation, further thinning the leadership of China's highest military decision-making body. The CMC is now effectively reduced to President Xi and Zhang Shengmin, who oversees discipline and anti-corruption. Security analysts warn the purge highlights growing internal strain, with one calling it the most extensive since 1949, posing operational risks and potentially complicating any near-term military plans involving Taiwan. While some see it as evidence of Xi's tightening grip on power, others note that such instability at the top command could hinder the PLA's ability to execute large-scale joint operations, despite its progress in hardware and technology.