In a significant move, China has dismissed its top general, placing him under scrutiny for alleged misconduct, marking another chapter in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing crackdown on high-ranking military figures.

General Zhang Youxia is under investigation for reportedly breaching party discipline and national laws, as announced by China’s Defense Ministry on Sunday. Zhang held the influential position of vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, ranking just below Xi in terms of military authority.

Additionally, Liu Zhenli, another key figure on the commission and head of its Joint Staff Department, is also facing an investigation by the ruling Communist Party.

This development follows a previous shake-up in October when the party expelled He Weidong, a former vice-chair of the commission. He was succeeded by Zhang Shengmin, a staunch supporter of Xi, who remains untouched by the current wave of dismissals.

President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently inspected the troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, underscoring his direct involvement and oversight.

The staff changes come after President Donald Trump’s administration released a new National Defense Strategy on Friday. The document shifts U.S. focus toward dominance in the Western Hemisphere rather than a longtime goal of countering China.

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

President Donald Trump’s administration released a new National Defense Strategy. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

The document also reflects Trump’s ongoing frustration with U.S. allies for failing to adequately contribute to their own defense. It says the U.S. will increasingly expect allied nations to handle their own security.

“We will engage in good faith with our neighbors, from Canada to our partners in Central and South America, but we will ensure that they respect and do their part to defend our shared interests,” the strategy says. “And where they do not, we will stand ready to take focused, decisive action that concretely advances U.S. interests.”