Xinhua News Agency reported that on September 21, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo reviewed and approved the Central Military Commission’s (CMC) reports on the investigations into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. It decided to expel the two senior military officials from the CCP, terminate their qualifications as delegates to the 20th Party Congress, and transfer their alleged criminal offenses to military procuratorial authorities for prosecution. The CMC had previously decided to expel them from military service.
A source described as an insider in the CCP’s military system told The Epoch Times that the decisions on how to handle their cases were originally expected to be announced at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee (October 26 – 29). However, according to the source, Xi Jinping recently called for the announcement to be brought forward ahead of his visit to the United States. The source said Xi intended to “settle the matter once and for all” and put a definitive end to the political characterization of Zhang and Liu.
Xinhua’s announcement described the offenses attributed to Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli as follows: abandoning their original aspiration and mission; becoming alienated from and disloyal to the Party; losing their Party spirit and principles; and crossing red lines and bottom lines; seriously violating political discipline and political rules, forming cliques, and being disloyal and dishonest to the Party; seriously violating organizational discipline by using their positions to assist others in obtaining promotions and receiving large sums of money; seriously violating integrity discipline by improperly accepting gifts and cash; seriously violating work discipline by failing to fulfill their political responsibility for exercising comprehensive and strict Party governance; and seriously violating life discipline by failing to properly educate and supervise their relatives and staff.
However, the language used in the latest announcement differs notably from that of a PLA Daily editorial published on January 25, when the investigations into Zhang and Liu were first announced. The earlier editorial accused them of “seriously undermining the CMC chairman responsibility system” — which can be understood as “seriously undermining Xi Jinping’s authority in the military” — and of damaging the Party’s absolute leadership over the military. It also said their conduct had severely affected the political foundation, political environment, and combat effectiveness of the PLA.
Sources:
{1} Xinhua, September 21, 2026
https://www.news.cn/politics/20260921/ed84cef8e5ad411e9ebf80c5f43e375e/c.html
{2} People’s Daily, January 26, 2026
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0125/c1001-40652025.html
{3} The Epoch Times, September 22, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/9/22/n14854544.htm