China Probes Top Military Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia

China's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, the senior vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. The probe marks a significant escalation in President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the People's Liberation Army. Another commission member, Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff Department, faces similar scrutiny.

The Central Military Commission, chaired by Xi, serves as China's top military decision-making body. Zhang, 75, a Politburo member and longtime ground forces general, joined the army in 1968. He remained in his position past the typical retirement age, reflecting his close ties to Xi, whose father served alongside Zhang's father during the revolutionary wars. Official statements provided no specifics on the allegations against Zhang or Liu, focusing instead on upholding party discipline.

This investigation follows a series of high-level dismissals that have reshaped the military leadership. In recent years, the commission has lost multiple key figures, including two previous vice chairmen, a defense minister, and more than a dozen generals. Last October,...