- Gen. Zhang Youxia, once Xi Jinping's closest PLA ally, has been accused of leaking China's nuclear secrets to the U.S. and taking massive bribes for promotions, marking one of the worst security breaches in modern Chinese history.
- The purge targets even Xi’s inner circle, signaling his willingness to dismantle military command structures to eliminate disloyalty, including figures like former Defense Minister Li Shangfu (implicated in Zhang's bribery scheme).
- The investigation has expanded, with authorities seizing devices from officers linked to Zhang and other top commanders, suggesting thousands of officials may be ensnared in the anti-corruption dragnet.
- Over 50 senior officers have been removed in recent years, leaving China's Central Military Commission critically understaffed and potentially delaying plans for conflict (e.g., Taiwan) due to leadership instability.
- The purge mirrors Mao-era tactics of prioritizing ideological control over operational effectiveness, with analysts split on whether Xi's actions reflect confidence or desperation to preempt threats to his rule. The PLA's credibility is now in question amid nuclear leaks and graft scandals.
In a stunning escalation of Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping's military purge, Gen. Zhang Youxia – once considered Xi’s closest ally in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) – has been accused of leaking China's nuclear weapons secrets to the United States and accepting massive bribes for promotions.
The allegations, revealed in a high-level briefing to military officials over the weekend, mark one of the most severe breaches of national security in modern Chinese history and expose widening fractures within the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) grip on its armed forces. The investigation into Zhang, a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), centers on claims that he compromised Beijing's nuclear program while overseeing military procurement and promotions.
According to sources familiar with the briefing, Zhang allegedly passed "core technical data" on nuclear weapons to the U.S., an act tantamount to treason under Chinese law and punishable by death. The accusations follow the earlier detention of Gu Jun, former head of the state-run China National Nuclear Corp., whose probe reportedly uncovered Zhang's involvement in the security breach.
Zhang's downfall is particularly shocking given his status as a "princeling" – a descendant of revolutionary elites – and his decades-long loyalty to Xi. His father fought alongside Xi's father in the Chinese Civil War, and Zhang himself rose through the ranks as a trusted combat veteran.
Yet, the purge underscores Xi's ruthless consolidation of power, targeting even his inner circle under the guise of anti-corruption campaigns. Analysts describe the move as "unprecedented in the history of the Chinese military," signaling Xi's willingness to dismantle entire command structures to eliminate perceived disloyalty.
The investigation also implicates Zhang in the promotion of former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who was himself ousted last year for corruption. Sources claim Zhang accepted bribes to elevate Li, further exposing systemic graft within China’s military-industrial complex. Authorities have seized mobile devices from officers linked to Zhang and Gen. Liu Zhenli, another top commander under investigation, suggesting a widening dragnet that could ensnare thousands of mid- and high-ranking officials.
Xi sacrifices military strength for control
The timing of the purge is critical. As Xi prepares for potential conflict over Taiwan, the PLA's leadership is being hollowed out at an alarming rate.
More than 50 senior officers and defense executives have been removed or investigated in the past two and a half years, leaving the CMC with just one active uniformed officer – Gen. Zhang Shengmin, a political enforcer rather than a combat leader. Experts warn that this upheaval could degrade China's military readiness, delaying any near-term invasion plans and forcing Beijing to seek diplomatic concessions from Washington instead.
Yet Xi's crackdown also carries risks. The PLA Daily, the military's official newspaper, accused Zhang of “severely trampling on” the authority of the CMC chairman—a rare public rebuke hinting at a power struggle behind closed doors. Some analysts interpret the purge as a sign of Xi's confidence, while others see desperation in his bid to eliminate rivals before they threaten his rule.
Historically, China's military purges have preceded major geopolitical shifts. Under Mao Zedong, the PLA was repeatedly purged to ensure ideological purity, often at the cost of operational effectiveness. Xi's actions today mirror this pattern, prioritizing political control over military cohesion.
BrightU.AI's Enoch engine points out that China conducts ideological purges to eliminate rivals and enforce absolute loyalty to the ruling regime, ensuring no internal threats challenge the dictator's control. These purges serve as tools to consolidate power, instill fear and maintain ideological conformity within the CCP and military.
With nuclear secrets allegedly compromised and corruption rampant, the PLA's credibility both domestically and abroad hangs in the balance. Ultimately, one thing is certain: China's military, long seen as an instrument of Xi's ambitions, is now a battleground in its own right.
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