Commentary
On Jan. 20, 2026, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli—two of China’s highest-ranking military leaders—were found absent from the opening of a study session for provincial- and ministerial-level officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Thinking About China
Opinion
Zhang Youxia’s Disappearance: China’s Military Purge Signals CCP’s Final Endgame
(Left) Liu Zhenli at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on March 5, 2025; (Right) Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia attends an official event in Beijing, China, on October 15, 2024. Reuters/Russian Defense Ministry
Zhong Yuan
Author
Zhong Yuan is a researcher focused on China’s political system, the country’s democratization process, human rights situation, and Chinese citizens’ livelihood. He began writing commentaries for the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times in 2020.
