The decision was taken after investigations were launched against them over suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
China expels two senior military officers: China on Friday formally dismissed two senior military officers from the state Central Military Commission. The move is the latest development in President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti- corruption crackdown.
The removed officers are Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, who were senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) figures before their removal from their military careers. The decision was taken after investigations were launched against them over suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang was second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and was also a member of the elite Politburo of China. On the other hand, Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department.
Zhao became the first commander of the reorganised Western Theatre Command in February 2016. A year later, Chinese and Indian troops faced off at Doklam near the India-China-Bhutan trijunction. The 72-day confrontation began after Chinese troops attempted to extend a road in a region claimed by both China and Bhutan. India intervened, citing security concerns and its commitments to Bhutan. The standoff eventually ended with both sides disengaging. Zhao was widely seen as the key PLA commander overseeing China’s military posture during the confrontation.
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