Xi’s Military Purge Leaves China’s Top Command With 2 Members

The Chinese Communist Party has formally removed two of its most senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from their posts. This legal step consolidates regime leader Xi Jinping’s control over the military. The regime’s NPC Standing Committee voted to remove Zhang as vice chairman and Liu as a member of the Central Military Commission, with both men having been under investigation since January.

• Two senior Chinese military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, have been formally removed from their posts.
• This action consolidates Xi Jinping’s control over the military.
• The Central Military Commission now appears to have only two publicly listed members.
• Zhang and Liu were placed under investigation in January and stripped of their NPC seats.