During a briefing held on Saturday, attended by high-ranking military officials, the Ministry of National Defense of China made a loud statement about the initiation of an investigation into General Zhang Yuxia, who was previously considered a close ally of the country's leader Xi Jinping.
The details of the investigation concerning violations of party discipline and laws were not disclosed. However, it was revealed by participants of the briefing that the general is under investigation due to suspicions of forming political factions and abusing his official position within the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party.
Additionally, the authorities focused on his activities in the agency responsible for research and procurement of military equipment, where he allegedly received significant sums of money for facilitating procurement processes.
The most shocking accusation presented at the closed briefing was the claim that Zhang transmitted critically important technical data regarding China's nuclear arsenal to the United States.
Some of the evidence against the general came from Gu Jun, the former head of China National Nuclear Corp., which oversees all of the country's nuclear programs. It is worth noting that an investigation against Gu was announced last week due to suspicions of serious violations.
The briefing also noted that the investigation into Gu is related to security violations in the nuclear sector, although details were not disclosed.
Zhang was also accused of facilitating the career advancement of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu in exchange for bribes, according to sources familiar with the investigation's progress.
Xi Jinping has tasked a special group with conducting a thorough investigation into Zhang's actions as commander of the Shenyang Military Region from 2007 to 2012. Sources report that the group has already arrived in Shenyang, staying in local hotels to avoid creating support for Zhang.
During the investigation, mobile devices were already seized from officers who worked with Zhang and General Liu Zhenli, who is also under investigation.
Since the summer of 2023, the Chinese party has begun to dismiss a number of high-profile military officials, including officers from the army, air force, and navy, as well as top commands responsible for Taiwan. Over the past 2.5 years, more than 50 senior military leaders and defense industry representatives have been investigated or dismissed.
As noted by The Economist, Xi Jinping has effectively purged the entire military leadership, an unprecedented move since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Although Zhang and Liu have not yet been officially dismissed, such investigations typically conclude with arrests.
Four other officers of the Central Military Commission have already been removed from their party and military positions, leaving only two active members in this body, which oversees about 2 million military personnel — Xi himself and General Shengming, who is responsible for discipline.
The current investigations highlight the scale of the difficulties Xi Jinping faces in his efforts to modernize the People's Liberation Army. He may be expressing frustration over Zhang's inability to achieve results by the set deadline next year, when the army is expected to be ready to seize Taiwan.
These purges may also echo Xi's concerns about Zhang's growing influence.
According to Dennis Wilder, a former CIA analyst on China, "this is the most striking event in Chinese politics since Xi came to power." Zhang, who triumphed in political intrigues, gained unprecedented power but became a potential threat to Xi.
Wilder characterizes the general as a "tough, foul-mouthed old goat," adding that while Zhang was an ally of Xi, he was never his subordinate.
