Fall of Top Chinese General Stirs U.S. Uncertainty About China’s Military

Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia arrives for a group photo session before the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, Shandong province, China April 22, 2024. Zhang is is under investigation after a high-profile purge of China’s top military leadership. Photo / REUTERS / Florence Lo / File Photo
Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia arrives for a group photo session before the opening ceremony of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, Shandong province, China April 22, 2024. Zhang is is under investigation after a high-profile purge of China’s top military leadership. Photo / REUTERS / Florence Lo / File

With the downfall of China’s top general, the United States has lost an important contact on Beijing’s top military body and now faces a People’s Liberation Army that increasingly lacks steady, experienced commanders, former U.S. officials and analysts said.

China’s defense ministry said on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is under investigation. It is the latest and highest-profile purge of the country’s top military leadership amid Xi’s crackdown on corruption in the armed forces.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Reuters

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard
4 India Forced to Pay Russia in Yuan, Handing China an Unexpected Win
5 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
6 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C

You Might Like

U.S. Defense Secretary Makes First Visit to Africa With an Eye on Countering Chinese Influence on the Continent

United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is in Africa this week, his first visit to the continent as defense chief, in a trip that’s aimed in part to push back against increased ...

U.S. Generals Continue to Insist China Plans to Build New Military Bases in Africa Even Though There’s No Evidence

The United States military is turning up the volume on its longstanding allegation that China is actively considering building new military bases around the world, including in four African countries. 

This Exchange on Capitol Hill Explains Why the Pentagon Keeps Saying China Wants to Build a New Base in Africa

For the past year or so, General Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander for Africa (AFRICOM) has said repeatedly that China is looking to build a new military base on ...

The Top Commander for U.S. Forces in Africa Was Asked if China and Russia Are Involved in the Recent Wave of Coups

General Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is well known for his oft-stated concern about China’s presence in Africa and the destabilizing role that he feels Beijing plays on the continent. ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP
Detected IP: ...