(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) China expels two top ‘disloyal’ military leaders from Communist Party | Xi Jinping News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/21/china-expels-two-top-disloyal-military-leaders-from-communist-party)                                              (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/9/21/china-expels-two-top-disloyal-military-leaders-from-communist-party)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/getty_6ab145f1b3-1790002673.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/09/getty_6ab145f1b3-1790002673.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.c7afea12.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (china-expels-two-top-disloyal-military-leaders-from-communist-party@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News |(https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/xi-jinping/) Xi Jinping   China expels two top ‘disloyal’ military leaders from Communist Party China removes two top generals over corruption, disloyalty as part of an ongoing anti-corruption crackdown.   Listen   Listen (2 mins)       Save       Share China expels two top ‘disloyal’ military leaders from Communist Party on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fbfleks) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=China%20expels%20two%20top%20%E2%80%98disloyal%E2%80%99%20military%20leaders%20from%20Communist%20Party&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fbfleks) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fbfleks) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/bfleks)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Gen. Zhang Youxia waves as he arrives for a group photo before the opening of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China. [April 22, 2024: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images])   Recently-dismissed Central Military Commission Vice Chairman, General Zhang Youxia, waves as he arrives at the 2024 Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China [File: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images]   (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458)     By  (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458) Al Jazeera Staff , APand Reuters   Published On 21 Sep 2026 21 Sep 2026    China has expelled two top military generals from the Chinese Communist Party on suspicion of corruption and other serious misconduct, becoming the latest senior officials to fall afoul of a significant anti-corruption push by President Xi Jinping. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli “seriously violated political discipline and political rules, formed cliques and factions, and were disloyal and dishonest to the party”, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Monday, citing official documents. No details of the alleged crimes were provided. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/9/17/us-tariffs-against-russian-oil-buyers-pass-what-it-means-for-china) US tariffs against Russian oil buyers pass: What it means for China, India  list 2 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/9/21/can-the-us-win-the-ai-cold-war-with-china) Can the US win the AI cold war with China?  list 3 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/9/17/why-have-chinas-oil-prices-reached-a-record-high) Why have China’s oil prices reached a record high?  list 4 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/9/17/aje-onl-nf_can-ai-regulation-keep-america-ahead-of-china-170926) Can AI regulation keep America ahead of China?   end of list  Investigations into the pair were announced in January, and they were removed from the military in late August. Zhang was long seen as Xi’s closest military ally as second-in-command of the Central Military Commission, China’s supreme command body. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. (BEIJING, CHINA - JULY 10: A general view of parade on July 10, 2026 in Beijing, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping treated President of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to a welcome ceremony with a military band and children waving flags and flowers, held indoors due to rainy weather. (Photo by Ng Han Guan-China Pool/Getty Images))  A military parade in Beijing, China [File: Ng Han Guan-China Pool/Getty Images]  The expulsions are part of the president’s sweeping anti-corruption crackdown, with thousands of officials being purged and millions within the Chinese bureaucracy investigated. The campaign is among the largest in modern Chinese history, including prior removals of high-profile political rivals. In (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/27/chinas-communist-party-expels-ex-defence-ministers-over-corruption-charges) June 2024 , Defence Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor were expelled from the party as part of the crackdown. More than a year later, China (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/18/china-expels-top-military-commanders-in-latest-anticorruption-purge) dismissed the second-highest-ranking general and eight other senior officials from the military and party. The military has become an increasing target of the anti-corruption purges, leaving two active members – including Xi serving as chairman – on the formerly seven-member CMC. Advertisement    The Defence Ministry announcement was made days before the Chinese president is set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington, and weeks before a key Communist Party assembly on internal governance.            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network