Zhang Youxia, the first-ranked vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Central Military Commission, has to date provided strong support to help Chinese leader Xi Jinping secure power. But recently, out of nine military generals expelled by the central authorities, three are Mr. Zhang’s former subordinates. A China expert believes that the relationship between Mr. Xi and Mr. Zhang is showing signs of strain.
Chinese authorities announced on Dec. 29 that nine military generals had been disqualified by the National People’s Congress (NPC), including three generals and at least four lieutenant generals, mainly from the Rocket Force and the Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department (EDD). The official announcement did not give any reasons for their dismissal.
