China’s military leadership is reportedly facing fresh upheaval after the country’s top brass confirmed investigations into two senior figures, amid claims that one of them is accused of leaking sensitive information related to China’s nuclear program to the United States.
China’s defense ministry announced that Zhang Youxia, the joint vice-chairperson of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, a senior official in the CMC’s joint staff department, are under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.”
The CMC is the key command body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and Zhang is considered one of the most powerful military figures in China’s hierarchy.
An editorial in the PLA’s official newspaper, Liberation Army Daily, said the two officials had “seriously betrayed” the trust of the Communist Party and the CMC, and accused them of fostering political and corruption-related problems that threatened the Party’s control over the military.
However, the allegations have taken a dramatic turn following a report by The Wall Street Journal, which claimed Zhang is accused of leaking details of China’s nuclear weapons program to the US and accepting bribes in exchange for official decisions, including support tied to senior appointments.
The report cited people familiar with a high-level briefing on the matter. These claims have not been independently verified.
Zhang, 75, is also a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo and has long been viewed as a close ally of President Xi Jinping. He was retained beyond the usual retirement age, a move widely interpreted as a sign of exceptional trust.
The development comes as Beijing continues an extended anti-corruption drive that has increasingly swept through the upper ranks of the PLA in recent years. The military, including elite branches, has been repeatedly targeted, with multiple senior officers and even former defense ministers reportedly facing disciplinary action over time.
Analysts say the targeting of such a senior figure could raise fresh questions about stability inside China’s military command at a time when Beijing’s regional posture, particularly around Taiwan and contested waters in the South and East China Seas, remains under intense international scrutiny.
For now, Chinese authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges beyond the disciplinary language used in official statements, while outside reports continue to fuel speculation over what could be one of the most significant internal military cases in years.