China's Global Ambitions

Analysis: A Stunning Move Gives Xi Absolute Control Over the Army

The investigation into senior Chinese general Zhang Youxia is a "stunning" move that effectively leaves Chinese President Xi Jinping alone at the top of the military hierarchy, writes CNN's Simone McCarthy in an analysis.

That in turn raises questions about the consequences for military power, as well as China's desire to take control of Taiwan.

"But the purge also makes one thing clear: Xi sees no goal too big to achieve as he reshapes the military according to his vision and prioritizes loyalty above all else," writes McCarthy.

Sky News' Helen-Ann Smith writes that Zhang Youxia played a central role in the modernization of the Chinese military apparatus and that he was one of the few generals with combat experience. Placing him under investigation could be due to several reasons, including ambitions to take over Taiwan, writes Smith.

“Taiwan could well be the motive. Xi Jinping has long argued that China can retake the self-governing island by force if necessary. It is entirely possible that he sees a deep-rooted system of corruption as something that really compromises the military’s ability to achieve this goal.”

Analyst: China is purging like it was during the time of Mao Zedong

Zhang Youxia is the second high-ranking politician in China to fall out of favor with the party in recent months, writes The Guardian. He is also one of a number of officials who have been purged in recent years. In 2025, eight top generals were purged, and in recent years, two defense ministers have been replaced.

Analysts tell the WSJ that the purge within China’s armed forces is the most aggressive since the time of Mao Zedong.

– This is an unprecedented move in the history of the Chinese military and represents a complete elimination of the top command, says Christopher Johnson, head of the China Strategies Group, which specializes in political risks.

Zhang Youxia, China's second-highest commander, has been described as President Xi Jinping's closest military ally. On Saturday, he was placed under investigation, suspected of serious deficiencies in discipline and obedience to the law, several media reports.

According to the WSJ, he is suspected of, among other things, leaking nuclear information to the United States. 

Sources: China's top general suspected of leaking nuclear secrets to the United States

China's top general Zhang Youxia is accused of leaking information about the country's nuclear weapons program to the United States. This is reported by sources to the WSJ.

The sources have access to a meeting held shortly after China suddenly announced on Saturday that Zhang was being investigated for “serious violations of disciplinary rules and laws.”

Several of China’s highest-ranking military leaders attended the meeting where the accusations were leveled against Zhang, who has previously been seen as President Xi Jinping’s most loyal defense chief.

According to the information, Zhang Youxia is accused of trying to undermine the unity of the Communist Party, of accepting “huge” sums of money to promote officials and – most seriously of all – of revealing secret technical data about China’s nuclear weapons program to the United States.