{"id":48288,"date":"2026-01-24T14:31:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T14:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=48288"},"modified":"2026-01-24T14:31:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T14:31:50","slug":"c701kr5zqdqoat_mediumrssat_campaignrss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/01\/24\/c701kr5zqdqoat_mediumrssat_campaignrss\/","title":{"rendered":"China places highest-ranking general under investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gtLOOD\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sacked-Jenrick-defects-and-Traitories.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/China-places-highest-ranking-general-under-investigation.webp.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/0dbc\/live\/c9bfcd40-f922-11f0-8e3c-b79a1b327384.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/China-places-highest-ranking-general-under-investigation.webp.webp?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Reuters Zhang Youxia arrives for a group photo session before the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, Shandong province\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">Zhang Youxia was widely seen as President Xi&#8217;s closest military ally<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">China&#8217;s defence ministry says it has opened an investigation into the country&#8217;s highest-ranking general over &#8220;grave violations of discipline and the law&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The ministry gave no further details about accusations against General Zhang Youxia, who has widely been seen as President Xi Jinping&#8217;s closest military ally. However in China the accusation of wrongdoing is usually a euphemism for corruption.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">In its announcement, the ministry said another senior military officer, General Liu Zhenli, was also under investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Their removal follows the expulsion of nine top generals in October &#8211; one of the largest public crackdowns on the military in decades. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Zhang, 75, is a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) &#8211; the Communist Party group headed by President Xi which controls the armed forces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Zhang also sits on the party&#8217;s top decision-making body, the 24-person Politburo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">His father was one of the founding generals of the Chinese Communist Party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Zhang joined the army in 1968 and is one of only a few senior leaders with combat experience. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He was kept in office beyond the customary retirement age for China&#8217;s military, suggesting President Xi&#8217;s confidence in him until now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The announcement comes days after rumours appeared that Zhang and Liu could be facing an investigation as they were not present at a high-level party event in December.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sacked-Jenrick-defects-and-Traitories.png?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769265110_260_China-places-highest-ranking-general-under-investigation.webp.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/caee\/live\/00449650-f920-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769265110_260_China-places-highest-ranking-general-under-investigation.webp.webp?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at a reception marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 3, 2025.\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\"\/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-536eff7b-0 gnQokQ\">President Xi has been accused of using corruption investigations to purge political rivals<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives through various departments and this campaign has recently focused heavily on the military.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He has called corruption &#8220;the biggest threat&#8221; to the Communist Party and said the fight against it  &#8220;remains grave and complex&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Advocates say the policy promotes good governance, but others believe it has been used as a tool to purge political rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">With the probe into Zhang and Liu, the CMC is now down from the original seven members to just two: Xi, who is the chairman, and Zhang Shengmin, who is responsible for the military&#8217;s disciplinary affairs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#China #places #highestranking #general #investigation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reuters Zhang Youxia was widely seen as President Xi&#8217;s closest military ally China&#8217;s defence ministry says it has opened an&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48288"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48290,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48288\/revisions\/48290"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}