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Liu Zhenli

Liu Zhenli

Chief of Staff, CMC Joint Staff Department

Appears in 1 story

Notable Quotes

"[Zhang and Liu] seriously betrayed the trust and expectations of the Communist Party and the CMC, and fostered political and corruption problems that undermined the party's absolute leadership over the military and threatened the party's ruling foundation." — Liberation Army Daily editorial, January 2026

Stories

Xi Jinping's military purge

Force in Play

Under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline and law'

Xi Jinping appointed all seven members of China's Central Military Commission in 2022. By early February 2026, only one remains—besides Xi himself. The investigation of Zhang Youxia, Xi's childhood friend and the PLA's most senior combat-experienced officer, marks the most dramatic purge of China's military leadership since the Cultural Revolution. Expert analysis confirms the purge has reached unprecedented scale: the senior ranks of the PLA are now described as "in tatters," with the CMC whittled down to just Xi and anti-corruption chief Zhang Shengmin.

Updated Feb 4