China Expels Top Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli From Party
· World · Al Jazeera, The Hindu, Reuters
China has expelled two top military generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Chinese Communist Party on suspicion of corruption and other serious misconduct. State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the pair violated political discipline, formed cliques, and were disloyal to the party. Investigations into the two officials were announced in January, followed by their removal from the military in late August. Zhang served as second-in-command of the Central Military Commission as President Xi Jinping's close military ally, while Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. The expulsions form part of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign ahead of a key Communist Party assembly and a scheduled meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Why it matters
The purge of top-ranking military leadership consolidates control within China's supreme command body during a critical period of internal governance and US-China diplomacy. The removal leaves only two active members on the Central Military Commission besides President Xi Jinping.
Read the original report — Al Jazeera
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