China removes top military general over corruption allegations – National

China made a major announcement over the weekend, saying it was investigating an army general for alleged ethical and legal violations.

Gen. Zhang Youxia was the highest-ranking member of the military under President Xi Jinping.

The Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that authorities are investigating Zhang, a top aide to two chairmen of the powerful Central Military Commission, China’s military body, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, a junior member of the commission in charge of the Joint Ministry of Manpower.

The move shakes up the entire commission, which is chaired by Xi, leaving only one member out of six.

“Xi Jinping has completed the biggest purge of China’s military leadership in the history of the People’s Republic,” said Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.

For the military and China in general, the full impact of the changes is not yet known. But some experts say the moves could have consequences for Beijing’s next move toward Taiwan, an island that Beijing claims as its territory.

Here are some factors to understand why the removal of Gen. Zhang is important.

The Ministry of Defense announced the measures on Saturday but did not provide details on the alleged crime. The next day, the People’s Liberation Army Daily published an editorial that failed to explain the specific reasons, saying only that it was “due to alleged moral and legal violations” and expressed China’s commitment to punishing corruption. That is something Xi has been pursuing since the early days of his presidency.

Rumors have spread on social media and there have been media reports about these changes but nothing official.

“I do not believe that any evidence released publicly or selectively leaked by the Chinese authorities will reveal the main reason for Zhang’s removal,” said K. Tristan Tang, non-resident Vasey Fellow at the Pacific Forum. “The bottom line is that Xi Jinping decided to turn against Zhang; once the investigation is started, the problems will almost certainly be exposed.”

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Analysts say the purge is designed to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Xi. They are part of a wider anti-corruption campaign that has led to the punishment of more than 200,000 officials since the Chinese leader took power in 2012.

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Before Zhang and Liu were fired, the Communist Party fired another vice chairman of the commission, He Weidong, in October. He was replaced by Zhang Shengmin, who is now the only member of the commission.

Since 2012, at least 17 generals of the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, have been removed from their military posts, among them eight who were members of the high commission, according to a review of military statements and state media reports by the Associated Press.

Some think the removal could have consequences for China’s decisions on Taiwan, but it is far from clear.

China considers Taiwan its own country and has threatened to take control of the island by force if necessary. China has also increased military pressure and, last month, launched a major military exercise in Taiwan two days after the US government announced a major arms sale to Taiwan.

Thomas, of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the latest purge “makes China’s threat to Taiwan weaker in the short term but stronger in the long term.”

It will make the military expansion against the island dangerous immediately because of “super control,” but in the long run it will mean the military has a credible and corruption-free leadership with more military power, he said.

Asked if this would reinforce the view that removing top military brass might indicate China is not ready to fight, Tang from the Pacific Forum said it “doesn’t fundamentally change that assessment”.

“That said,” he added, “I don’t even believe the combat readiness of the PLA has been seriously compromised.”

With the latest changes, the military commission will operate with only six active members and Xi will lead as chairman.

The editor of the PLA’s Daily said that after the actions against Zhang and Liu, the party is moving forward to “encourage the revival of the People’s Liberation Army, and put a strong impetus into building a strong army.”

But it is unclear whether the five vacant positions will be replaced soon or if Xi will wait until 2027, when there will be elections for the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the body in charge of appointing new members of the military commission.

Tang, from the Pacific Forum, sees no pressure on Xi to fill positions in the short term.

“Unless the purpose is to create an internal counterweight to Zhang Shengmin,” the only member of the commission, he said.

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