Two Top Chinese Military Officials Under Investigation for Serious Disciplinary Violations

Key Points

Two of China’s highest-ranking military officials, Zhang Youxia (Zhang Youxia 张又侠) and Liu Zhenli (Liu Zhenli 刘振立), are under formal investigation.
They are being investigated for suspected “serious violations of discipline and law”, as announced by the Ministry of National Defense (Guofangbu 国防部).
Zhang Youxia is a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli is Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC.
Investigations of this magnitude indicate broader efforts in discipline enforcement, anti-corruption campaigns, and leadership consolidation within China’s military.

Military Investigation Highlights

Officials Involved: Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli
Allegation: Serious violations of discipline and law
Authority: Ministry of National Defense (Guofangbu)
Significance: High-level leadership consolidation and anti-corruption

The political landscape in China just shifted with two of the country’s highest-ranking military officials now under formal investigation for alleged violations of Party discipline and law.

Who’s Being Investigated and Why It Matters

Profile of Investigated Military Officials
Name	Key Military & Party Roles
Zhang Youxia (张又侠)	Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission; Member of the CPC Political Bureau
Liu Zhenli (刘振立)	Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC; Member of the CMC

According to the Ministry of National Defense (Guofangbu 国防部), both Zhang Youxia (Zhang Youxia 张又侠) and Liu Zhenli (Liu Zhenli 刘振立) are now under investigation.

Here’s what you need to know about their positions:

Zhang Youxia (Zhang Youxia 张又侠): Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Liu Zhenli (Liu Zhenli 刘振立): Member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission

These aren’t mid-level operatives—we’re talking about two of the most powerful figures in China’s military hierarchy.

The Official Investigation: What Comes Next

After a formal review by the Party Central Committee, both officials have been placed under formal investigation for suspected “serious violations of discipline and law.”

The investigation process includes:

Case filing by central authorities
Thorough investigation into their conduct
Review of disciplinary violations

When investigations like this become public, it typically signals that the Party has already gathered enough preliminary evidence to move forward with formal proceedings.

Find Top Talent on China's Leading Networks

Post Across China's Job Sites from $299 / role
Qualified Applicant Bundles
One Central Candidate Hub

Get 20% Off
Your First Job Post Use Checkout Code 'Fresh20'

What This Means for China’s Military Leadership

High-profile investigations of this magnitude at the military level don’t happen frequently, and they carry significant implications.

These moves often reflect broader efforts around:

Discipline enforcement within military structures
Anti-corruption campaigns at the highest levels
Leadership consolidation and organizational control

The fact that both officials held such critical positions in the military command structure means their removal—or the outcomes of these investigations—could trigger significant shifts in China’s defense and strategic decision-making apparatus.