China removes top military general over suspected discipline violations – National |
The sudden fall of one of China’s most powerful military leaders has sent ripples far beyond Beijing—and Washington is paying close attention.
With Chinese authorities confirming that Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and second only to President Xi Jinping in the military hierarchy, is under investigation, the United States has effectively lost one of its most reliable high-level military contacts inside China. For U.S. policymakers and defense analysts, this development raises an uncomfortable question: Who is advising Xi Jinping during a crisis now?
Why Zhang Youxia Mattered to Washington
In China’s tightly controlled political system, access matters. Zhang Youxia was not just another general—he outranked China’s defense minister and sat at the very top of real military power. For years, U.S. officials viewed him as a rare, steady, and professional interlocutor within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
During periods when military-to-military communication was frozen—most notably after former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan—Zhang was still allowed to engage with U.S. counterparts. That made him a crucial backchannel at moments when misunderstandings could easily spiral into confrontation.
Simply put, Zhang was seen as a known quantity in an otherwise opaque system.
A Shrinking Circle Around Xi Jinping
Zhang’s removal also highlights a deeper issue: the thinning of experienced voices around Xi Jinping. Zhang was one of the few senior PLA officers with real combat experience, dating back to China’s brief war with Vietnam in the late 1970s. Former U.S. officials believe he brought realism to discussions about China’s actual military readiness—and the true costs of conflict.
Now, the Central Military Commission reportedly has just one remaining general, a career political commissar. Analysts worry this could leave Xi increasingly reliant on loyalists rather than professionals.
As one former U.S. defense official put it bluntly: without Zhang, Xi risks hearing what he wants to hear, not what he needs to hear.
Why This Matters for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific
From Washington’s perspective, the stakes are high. The U.S. has spent years trying to build guardrails with Beijing to prevent accidents or miscalculations—especially around Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the broader Indo-Pacific.
Zhang’s absence raises concerns that the PLA’s internal advice loop may become more rigid and ideological. That doesn’t necessarily mean China is rushing toward conflict, but it does increase the risk of misjudgment, particularly during fast-moving crises.
Even though U.S. officials continue talks with China’s defense minister, real command authority rests with the CMC. And without trusted, senior-level access there, Washington has fewer ways to read Beijing’s intentions—or to be heard when it matters most.
The Bigger Picture: Purges and Power
Zhang’s downfall is part of President Xi’s broader anti-corruption campaign within the military, a drive that has already swept away several top officers. While Beijing frames these moves as discipline and reform, outsiders see a parallel consolidation of power—and growing uncertainty inside the PLA’s top ranks.
For the United States, the concern isn’t just about one man. It’s about institutional stability, decision-making quality, and whether China’s leadership is becoming more insulated at a time of rising global tensions.
In Short
The fall of Zhang Youxia removes a stabilizing figure from China’s military leadership and a critical point of contact for the U.S. As China modernizes its forces and asserts itself more forcefully in the region, Washington is left navigating a PLA that may be more powerful—but also more closed, centralized, and unpredictable.
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