China’s Top General Zhang Youxia Investigated for Nuclear Secrets Leak

Beijing, China — January 26, 2026

Beijing, China — January 26, 2026

The foundations of the Chinese Communist Party’s military command have been shaken to their core today following the official announcement that General Zhang Youxia, the first-ranked Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the elite Politburo, has been placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.”

In a dramatic escalation of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign, Zhang—widely considered Xi’s closest and most loyal military ally—is now the highest-ranking uniformed officer to fall in modern Chinese history.

Reports emerging from closed-door briefings in Beijing suggest that the charges extend far beyond financial graft, involving allegations of leaking core technical data regarding China’s nuclear weapons program to foreign intelligence services.

Headlines

Highest-Level Purge:

Gen. Zhang Youxia, the military’s No. 1 uniformed officer, is placed under investigation.

National Security Breach:

Accusations include leaking “core technical data” on nuclear programs to the United States.

Double Downfall:

Gen. Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department, is also detained in the sweep.

Loyalty Crisis:

The investigation marks the downfall of Xi Jinping’s lifelong friend and revolutionary “princeling” ally.

The downfall of the 75-year-old Zhang Youxia is particularly shocking because of his deep personal ties to President Xi.

Their fathers were revolutionary comrades-in-arms, and Zhang was seen as the “steady hand” overseeing the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) modernization and weapons procurement.

However, the official narrative shifted abruptly this weekend. State media reports and internal briefings indicate that Zhang is accused of forming “political cliques” and abusing his authority to facilitate promotions in exchange for massive bribes.

More gravely, sources suggest that evidence against him emerged from a separate probe into Gu Jun, the former general manager of China National Nuclear Corp, linking Zhang to the unauthorized disclosure of nuclear secrets.

Alongside Zhang, General Liu Zhenli—the chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff Department and the man responsible for China’s combat readiness—has also been removed and placed under investigation.

This “near-total wipeout” of the Central Military Commission leaves the Chinese military leadership in a state of unprecedented flux.

For the Castle Journal, this represents a critical moment in world leadership governance; the purge signifies that no official, regardless of their revolutionary pedigree or personal proximity to the President, is immune to the “bludgeon” of the anti-corruption drive if they are perceived as a threat to the state’s unified command.

The investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli comes at a time of heightened global tension, particularly as China aims to achieve full military modernization by 2027.

Analysts believe the purges are intended to ensure absolute loyalty to Xi Jinping and to root out any potential “materialism” that could compromise combat effectiveness.

In the secretive corridors of Beijing, the move is being interpreted as a message that the party’s control over the gun is absolute.

The editorial board of the People’s Liberation Army Daily has already denounced the two generals, claiming they “undermined the authority of the CMC” and “damaged the efforts to improve combat readiness.”

The CJ exclusive department has received reports from within the diplomatic community in Beijing suggesting that Zhang’s family and close associates are also being detained as part of a wider “scorched earth” investigation.

This development is expected to have a chilling effect across the PLA, as officers who were promoted under Zhang’s tenure now face scrutiny.

As China enters the Lunar New Year period, the political landscape in Beijing remains tense, with the succession and the future of the CMC’s leadership remaining entirely clouded.

For the international community, the removal of the PLA’s top operational commanders raises serious questions about China’s strategic stability.

If the allegations of nuclear data leaks are confirmed, it could lead to a massive restructuring of China’s strategic rocket forces and a shift in its global defense posture.

We will continue to investigate the “secretive reports” surrounding this purge as they reach our exclusive department.

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