• China expelled two senior military generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, over corruption and disloyalty.
• The expulsions come as part of Xi Jinping's extensive anti-corruption campaign within the military.
• Both generals faced serious allegations, including forming cliques and violating political discipline.
• Investigations into the generals were initiated earlier this year, culminating in their expulsion in September.
• The military has seen significant purges, leaving only two active members on its Central Military Commission.

The Chinese Communist Party has expelled two high-ranking military officials, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, due to serious allegations of corruption and disloyalty. Zhang served as a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and was a key ally of President Xi Jinping, making the expulsions particularly noteworthy. Liu was a member of the Commission as well, serving as the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. Their removal adds to a pattern of leadership displacement following claims of misconduct, with investigations against them announced earlier this year, according to IndiaTimes, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

Following their expulsion, both generals have been cited for "seriously violating political discipline" by forming factions within the military and demonstrating a lack of loyalty to the party. State media reported that their actions were intertwined with economic misconduct, which included “corrupt self-enrichment” and "dereliction of duty". The official statements emphasized the gravity of their breaches, claiming they involved "exceptionally large sums" of money and had significantly harmful impacts on party integrity, according to IndiaTimes, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

The ongoing anti-corruption campaign, launched by Xi Jinping since he took power, has seen a systematic purging of military ranks, with the recent actions leaving only two active members on the previously seven-member Central Military Commission. Analysts suggest these measures reveal Xi's intent to eliminate corruption while reinforcing his political authority, reflecting fears of factionalism akin to the tumultuous political climate during Mao's era. These expulsions signify a critical moment in China's military leadership context, pivotal for its governance structure, according to IndiaTimes, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.