Chinese General Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli Removed from Central Military Commission Posts, Top Military Leadership Sees Major Adjustment

Chinese General Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli Removed from Central Military Commission Posts, Top Military Leadership Sees Major Adjustment

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress removed Zhang Youxia as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Liu Zhenli as a member of the Central Military Commission on August

1. Both had previously been announced by the Communist Party of China to be under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress voted to remove Zhang Youxia as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and Liu Zhenli as a member of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China on August

1. Both had previously been announced by the Communist Party of China to be under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Official Confirmation of Job Changes

According to the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress released by Xinhua News Agency, the 24th meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the motion to remove them from their posts. Caixin reported on the same day that the qualifications of Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, as well as Zhong Shaoyun and Ju Qiansheng as National People's Congress representatives had also been terminated.

It should be noted that this information first confirms the changes in their jobs at the national level and the investigation status announced by the Communist Party of China earlier. The Communist Party's description of "serious violations of discipline and law" is its official characterization and investigation statement, which is not equivalent to a conviction in a public judicial procedure.

Further Reduction in Central Military Commission Members

Reuters reported on August 29 that after this adjustment, the number of publicly serving members of the Central Military Commission of China has further decreased. Zhang Youxia was previously the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee; Liu Zhenli previously served as a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff.

In recent years, the top leadership of the Communist Party's military has continued to see investigations, removals, and personnel changes. Several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of National Defense, the Rocket Force, and the military-industrial system, have been investigated or removed from their posts. The Beijing side usually explains these actions as anti-corruption and disciplinary inspections, but it is difficult for the outside world to judge all the political and power factors behind individual cases based solely on publicly available official materials.

Follow-up Still to be Observed

Currently, publicly available information can confirm that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli's posts on the Central Military Commission have been removed, and that they were previously announced by the Communist Party of China to be under investigation. As for their posts within the Party's Central Military Commission, the outcome of the investigation, and whether they will enter the judicial process, further publicly released documents will be needed.

"Focus on China" will continue to monitor the follow-up disclosures from the National People's Congress, the military, and other public channels, and distinguish between the different legal and political implications of official disciplinary investigations, state agency removals, and judicial responsibility.