BEIJING – The Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that China’s highest-ranking military officer is currently under investigation for alleged serious breaches of discipline and law.

At the center of this scrutiny is Zhang Youxia, one of the senior vice chairs of the influential Central Military Commission. His investigation marks the latest development in an ongoing campaign targeting military officials.

Experts suggest that these investigations serve a dual purpose: reforming the military and consolidating loyalty to Xi Jinping, China’s leader and head of the military commission. This initiative is part of a larger anti-corruption effort that has disciplined over 200,000 officials since Xi assumed power in 2012.

Additionally, Liu Zhenli, another member of the commission and chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department, is also under investigation by the Communist Party, as confirmed by the Defense Ministry. The Central Military Commission stands as the highest military authority in China.

The Defense Ministry’s statement did not elaborate on the specifics of the allegations against the officials.

Zhang, who is 75, joined the People’s Liberation Army in 1968 and is a general from its ground forces.

The Communist Party expelled the other vice chair of the commission, He Weidong, last October and replaced him with commission member Zhang Shengmin.

In 2024, the party expelled two former defense ministers over corruption charges.

The Trump administration released a new National Defense Strategy on Friday acknowledging China as a military power that it said needs to be deterred from dominating the U.S. or its allies.

“This does not require regime change or some other existential struggle,” the strategy said. “Rather, a decent peace, on terms favorable to Americans but that China can also accept and live under, is possible.”