https://www.scmp.com/rss/524216/feed The latest news and top stories on Zhang Shengmin, a General and Member of the Central Military Commission. He serves as Secretary of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection and Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, leading military anti-corruption efforts. A career political commissar, primarily in the PLA Rocket Force, he was promoted to General in 2017 and has overseen significant disciplinary work. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Chinese President Xi Jinping has again sought to shore up the military’s ideological defences, demanding absolute loyalty to the Communist Party from all ranks, just weeks after the country’s top general came under investigation for corruption. “There must be no room within the military for those harbouring disloyalty towards the party, nor any shelter for corrupt individuals,” Xi told a meeting of military and armed police lawmakers on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345830/xi-jinpings-zero-fail-mission-chinas-military-total-loyalty-no-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The last uniformed man standing on China’s top military body has called for further “political rectification” of the armed forces, following a wave of high-profile corruption investigations. At a panel discussion in Beijing on Thursday as part of the country’s annual “two sessions”, Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said this year was “crucial for fulfilling the goal for the centenary” of the People’s Liberation Army. “We must deepen political rectification,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345700/chinas-last-cmc-general-urges-more-political-rectification-pla-centenary-countdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3345700/chinas-last-cmc-general-urges-more-political-rectification-pla-centenary-countdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:52:03 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body overseeing the People’s Liberation Army, is set for a leadership reshuffle after the downfall of most of its members. President Xi Jinping is now in his third term as chairman of the commission. But now five of the other six members of the commission – who were all originally expected to serve a five-year term, ending in 2027 – are no longer active. Last month Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the CMC and China’s most senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343361/what-chinas-central-military-commission-and-how-does-it-operate-amid-anti-graft-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:32 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s top military command body has moved to tighten Communist Party control over the armed forces with updates to disciplinary rules for party members in the People’s Liberation Army. The PLA Daily, the military’s official newspaper, reported on Saturday that the revisions were to “actively respond to key concerns” in disciplinary enforcement practice. It did not specify the changes, but the report came just two weeks after the announcement that top general Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342755/chinas-military-command-tightens-discipline-top-generals-wake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342755/chinas-military-command-tightens-discipline-top-generals-wake?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng,Jun Mai Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng,Jun Mai Beijing’s bold move to remove top generals accused of corruption reflects its strategic assessment that overhauling the armed forces is more urgent, and that the issue of Taiwan can wait, according to military analysts. The investigation into China’s top commanders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, has left the Central Military Commission (CMC), the country’s highest military command body, with just two members at present – President Xi Jinping, who is chairman of the CMC, and vice-chairman Zhang... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342224/what-does-fall-pla-top-brass-zhang-youxia-say-about-beijings-taiwan-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342224/what-does-fall-pla-top-brass-zhang-youxia-say-about-beijings-taiwan-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:00:48 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The PLA’s anti-corruption investigations into top general Zhang Youxia and others will eliminate a watered-down combat capability resulting from corruption and give new momentum to the armed forces, the official paper of the Chinese military has said. “The resolute investigation and punishment of corrupt officials such as Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli removes obstacles and stumbling blocks that hinder the development of our cause,” the PLA Daily said in a front-page editorial on Monday. “It... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342072/zhang-youxia-investigation-end-watered-down-capability-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3342072/zhang-youxia-investigation-end-watered-down-capability-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:01:12 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma China’s unrelenting anti-corruption drive will improve – not compromise – the military’s fighting strength, two signed commentaries published in the PLA Daily have argued. The articles – one on Friday and the other on Saturday – in the People’s Liberation Army mouthpiece called corruption the “number one killer” of battle effectiveness and cautioned against both “unrealistic optimism” and “harmful pessimism” about the anti-graft campaign – suggesting the crackdown on corruption will not end any... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341947/chinas-military-redoubles-corruption-fight-wake-zhang-youxias-downfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341947/chinas-military-redoubles-corruption-fight-wake-zhang-youxias-downfall?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:56:49 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The sudden removal of China’s two most senior generals is believed to be a stark warning underscoring President Xi Jinping’s zero-tolerance focus on Communist Party discipline and political purity ahead of two landmark events next year. Beijing announced on Saturday that Zhang Youxia, first-ranked vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and China’s top uniformed officer, was under investigation for serious disciplinary violations, as was Liu Zhenli, chief of the CMC’s Joint Staff... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341173/why-chinas-rapid-ousting-2-top-generals-sharp-warning-party-purity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3341173/why-chinas-rapid-ousting-2-top-generals-sharp-warning-party-purity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army has made a rare public appeal for tip-offs about procurement problems in its air force, as Beijing presses ahead with its anti-corruption campaign in the military. The announcement was posted on Monday on the PLA’s official procurement website – the main bid information platform for suppliers – seeking information about “irregular” procurement activities organised by air force units. It is the first time such a request has been made about a specific branch of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,William Zheng Even for the anti-graft era of President Xi Jinping, the wave of investigations into alleged corruption in the Chinese military over the past three years has been exceptional. Last month, nine senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers were expelled from the Communist Party and the military, including He Weidong, formerly China’s second-highest-ranking military officer. They are accused of having “violated party discipline and allegedly committed serious crimes related to their duties” –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332692/top-pla-heads-have-rolled-chinas-hunt-corrupt-military-officials-may-be-here-stay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332692/top-pla-heads-have-rolled-chinas-hunt-corrupt-military-officials-may-be-here-stay?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:00:23 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Chinese military’s top general has pledged to crack down on “fake loyalty” and “two-faced men” and to speed up weapons development in the next five years. General Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a Politburo member, made the remarks in an article published as part of a collection supporting the Communist Party’s policy recommendations for the 15th five-year plan from 2026 to 2030. The articles – written by dozens of senior officials from all policy areas –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331516/chinas-top-general-vows-crack-down-fake-loyalty-and-two-faced-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331516/chinas-top-general-vows-crack-down-fake-loyalty-and-two-faced-men?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 04:00:12 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang China’s Communist Party needs to enforce strict discipline to deal with external pressure and manage tough domestic development issues over the next five years, the president’s chief of staff has said. In an opinion piece in state-run People’s Daily on Monday, Cai Qi wrote of the “extreme importance of exercising full and rigorous party self-governance to achieve the economic and social development goals of the 15th five-year plan period”. Cai, the fifth-ranking member of the Politburo Standing... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331319/communist-party-discipline-key-meeting-chinas-5-year-plan-goals-cai-qi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3331319/communist-party-discipline-key-meeting-chinas-5-year-plan-goals-cai-qi?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:22:39 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang China’s military mouthpiece has launched a series on “political rectification” – linking it to the ideological purity of the People’s Liberation Army – days after several generals were expelled from the ruling Communist Party for corruption. In the first instalment on Monday, PLA Daily ran four pages of commentary and reporting urging the military to “strengthen and consolidate the consciousness of alignment and adherence”. That was a reference to the alignment between the party leadership and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330506/chinas-military-mouthpiece-puts-focus-political-rectification-after-generals-purged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330506/chinas-military-mouthpiece-puts-focus-political-rectification-after-generals-purged?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Alcott Wei,William Zheng Yuanyue Dang,Alcott Wei,William Zheng China has promoted Zhang Shengmin, the military’s anti-graft chief, to vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), which is headed by President Xi Jinping. And Zhang Fengzhong, a senior general with the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, has been placed under investigation for corruption, according to a communique of the fourth plenary session of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, which concluded on Thursday. Zhang Fengzhong was an alternate member of the Central... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330061/china-makes-anti-graft-chief-zhang-shengmin-vice-chair-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3330061/china-makes-anti-graft-chief-zhang-shengmin-vice-chair-central-military-commission?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:05:15 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang,Liu Zhen Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang,Liu Zhen China’s second-ranked military general has become the latest PLA top brass to fall from grace, with the defence ministry announcing that he was under investigation and had been dismissed from service and the party. He Weidong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the 24-man Politburo, was expelled from the Communist Party and the armed forces, China’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Friday. The CMC, chaired by President Xi Jinping, sits at the apex of... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329429/chinas-no-2-general-he-weidong-expelled-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3329429/chinas-no-2-general-he-weidong-expelled-communist-party?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:37:41 +0000