Senior military officials Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli probed for discipline, law violations

The defence ministry in Beijing announced that senior military officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli have been placed under investigation for suspected serious discipline and law violations.

Zhang is the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.

75-year-old General of the Army Zhang Youxia is a member of the 24-man CPC Political Bureau.

Zhang serves as the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, China's top military command body, which makes him the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the Chinese military.

Liu Zhenli, 61, is a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department.

In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of General at the age of 57, the youngest in public records.

The ministry said the decision to probe into the two top generals was made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Analysts say the ousting of the two generals is designed to reform the military and part of a broader anti-graft purge that has seen many officials punished over the years.