China has opened an investigation into two of its most senior military officials, signalling one of the most significant purges of the People’s Liberation Army’s top leadership in decades. The Chinese Defence Ministry confirmed that General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo, is under investigation for serious violations of party discipline and law.

Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department, is also being probed. According to official statements and media reports, Zhang has not appeared in public since mid-November and was reportedly detained earlier this week amid allegations of corruption and failure to supervise close associates.

The investigation comes as President Xi Jinping intensifies his long-running anti-corruption campaign within the military, even as China pushes ahead with ambitious modernisation plans. The crackdown has already ensnared multiple top generals and former defence ministers, reinforcing Xi’s control over the armed forces while disrupting procurement and defence industry operations.