Chinese leader Xi Jinping has intensified the fight against corruption and political cadres at the top of the armed forces considered unreliable. Therefore, dozens of generals and heads of the defense industry resigned and came under investigation.
The investigation included General Zhang Youxia, the senior of the two vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission and China's highest serving general, also a member of the Politburo. According to the speaker of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, he is suspected of serious violations of party discipline and state laws.
Another senior officer, General Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Army Staff in charge of combat planning and operations, is also under investigation on similar charges. Both generals actively participated in the modernization of the army and have combat experience.
The media notes that these investigations are part of Xi Jinping's strategy to purify the military to ensure party loyalty. The Pentagon believes such purges could temporarily impact the Army's combat effectiveness while laying the groundwork for its long-term modernization.
