China probes senior military officials Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli for suspected serious discipline, law violations: defense ministry
XINHUA1 day
China Probes Top Military Officials in Corruption Sweep
Is Zhang's downfall Xi crushing a coup attempt or proof of anti-corruption success rooting out serious violations?
Above: Zhang Youxia at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on March 5, 2025. Image credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
Zhang Youxia's downfall proves Xi Jinping successfully crushed an internal coup attempt by party elders seeking to preserve the CCP through reform. The swift announcement signals Xi's decisive counterattack after opponents let their guard down. This power struggle accelerates the inevitable collapse of the Communist Party as reformist fantasies crumble.
Pro-China narrative
The investigation into Zhang Youxia exposes devastating corruption including leaking nuclear weapons data to the United States and accepting bribes for promotions. These serious violations demonstrate the party's zero-tolerance approach to rooting out officials who abuse authority and form political cliques. The probe validates Xi's anti-corruption campaign.
Narrative C
The purge of China's most senior general, long seen as untouchable and close to Xi, reveals an atmosphere of pervasive paranoia and political maneuvering. The move underscores Xi's drive to tighten control over the People's Liberation Army and eliminate potential rivals, raising questions about internal loyalty and the implications for China's war readiness.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
The Controversies
Establishment split
CRITICAL
PRO
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0