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Zhang Youxia

The latest news on Chinese politician Zhang Youxia, including political stories and updates.

Born

Jul 1950

Industry

Politics, Military

Job Title

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China

China’s industrial output grew by 6.1 per cent from a year earlier in April. Photo: AFP

China's economic recovery

China’s economic resilience muffles speculation over imminent fiscal stimulus

China’s exports and industrial output beat market expectations in April, despite the impact of US tariffs.

20 May 2025 - 10:40AM

Corruption in China

Chinese military leaders urge war readiness ahead of Lunar New Year

27 Jan 2025 - 6:09PM

China’s military drills

China and Pakistan talk security as they target terrorism against belt and road

28 Nov 2024 - 11:40PMvideocam

China’s military

China, Saudi military cooperation on ‘fast track’ as top defence officials meet

Riyadh’s Khalid bin Salman holds meetings with China’s top generals during relations-building visit to Beijing.

26 Jun 2024 - 5:44PM

China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun welcomes his Saudi counterpart Prince Khalid bin Salman to Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: X/@modgovksa

Two Sessions 2024

Chinese general calls for crackdown on ‘fake combat capabilities’ in military

He Weidong’s message seen to be related to weapons procurement and problems with training.

11 Mar 2024 - 5:47PMvideocam

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Science

Does China need a data bureau to support its ever-growing satellite networks?

A CPPCC member has suggested the creation of an agency to coordinate information being gathered by the devices.

8 Mar 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

China’s military

How Beijing-hosted navy forum could take China-US military ties to a new level

The Western Pacific Naval Symposium will be held in Qingdao in April, the first time China has hosted for a decade.

1 Feb 2024 - 9:50AMvideocam

China’s PLA Navy hosted the working group meeting of the 19th Western Pacific Naval Symposium in preparation for the symposium in April. Photo: Weibo/@PLA Navy

China’s military

Chinese warships visit controversial Cambodian naval base for joint exercise

The vessels pictured at the Ream naval base are the first foreign warships known to have used a new facility built with the help of China.

6 Dec 2023 - 6:59PM

US-China relations

Apec summit: risks of upset to ‘fragile stability’ as Xi, Biden prepare to meet

Both sides face multiple potential flashpoints with uncertainty likely to continue for ‘a very, very long time’, one analyst says

14 Nov 2023 - 2:51AMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | US-China thaw raises hopes for military dialogue breakthrough

Top-level US-China military communication was halted after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year. But there are now signs of a breakthrough, with concrete action towards renewed defence relations.

13 Nov 2023 - 5:30AMvideocam

China-Russia relations

China admires Russia’s resilience, top PLA general tells Putin

General Zhang Youxia became the most senior PLA figure to visit since Russia was sanctioned over its invasion of Ukraine.

9 Nov 2023 - 11:24PM

Russia

Putin seeks cooperation with China on military satellites, prospective weapons

The Russian leader’s comments were made during a visit by General Zhang Youxia, China’s No 2 military official and vice-chair of the Central Military Commission.

9 Nov 2023 - 4:02AMvideocam

China’s military

Security conference delegates suggest ways for US and China to build trust

Former Pentagon official Chad Sbragia suggests that Beijing should recognise other countries such as Japan have their own legitimate security concerns.

3 Nov 2023 - 7:10PMvideocam

China’s military

Lloyd Austin’s absence at Xiangshan Forum a missed opportunity: Chinese general

US defence secretary could have met top PLA brass – and maybe even President Xi Jinping – while resuming long-stalled senior military dialogues at security conference in Beijing, says Lieutenant General He Lei.

31 Oct 2023 - 10:11PMvideocam

PLA Lieutenant General He Lei is one of two Chinese military officials known to have spoken with members of the US delegation at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. Photo: SCMP/ Jack Lau

China’s military

Russia’s defence chief hails China ties, warns Nato expansion has nuclear risks

At the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu says Beijing-Moscow relations are growing in allure as a model for ‘circle of friends’ and ‘like-minded’ countries.

30 Oct 2023 - 6:05PMvideocam

Russian defence chief Sergei Shoigu is heading Russia’s delegation to the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a three-day security conference in the Chinese capital. Photo: AP Photo

China’s military

PLA will ‘show no mercy’ against Taiwan independence moves, top general says

At Beijing Xiangshan Forum, CMC vice-chairman Zhang Youxia also takes a thinly veiled swipe at the US, saying a ‘certain country’ is interfering in the region and internal affairs of other nations.

30 Oct 2023 - 6:42PMvideocam

China’s military

Questions cloud prospects for Xi-Biden Apec talks, ex-envoy tells defence forum

Hopes for a meeting between the two presidents depend on open communication between senior officials, former Chinese envoy Cui Tiankai says.

30 Oct 2023 - 1:23AMvideocam

China’s military

Why Beijing Xiangshan Forum is where war-torn Global South can find solutions

Arrival of delegations from sworn enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan at Beijing Xiangshan Forum shows the Global South is looking at China for regional security solutions, defence expert says.

29 Oct 2023 - 9:12PMvideocam

Delegations from 90 countries and international bodies, including 22 defence ministers, are expected to attend the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing. Photo: Minnie Chan

China’s military

Explainer | Why the role of Chinese defence minister isn’t exactly what it sounds like

China’s first few defence ministers enjoyed more influence and much higher profiles.

25 Oct 2023 - 9:45PMvideocam

China’s military

Did China’s top general signal a restart in Beijing’s military diplomacy?

Zhang Youxia, China’s most senior military officer, met Serbia’s defence chief in a sign that the country’s military diplomacy could be normalising.

19 Oct 2023 - 6:46PMvideocam

China’s military

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu not at meeting, continuing public absence

Li, one of three officials who do not attend a meeting of the Central Military Commission, has not been seen since August 29, when he spoke at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing.

16 Sep 2023 - 7:42PMvideocam

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu, shown at the Moscow Conference on International Security on August 15, has not been seen in public since August 29. Photo: EPA-EFE

China’s military

‘Quality of weapons top priority’ in complex world: Chinese general to top brass

Call from Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission headed by President Xi Jinping, comes a month after PLA Rocket Force shake-up.

30 Aug 2023 - 11:28PMvideocam

General Zhang Youxia, first vice-chairman of the PLA’s Central Military Commission, addresses a weapons and equipment meeting in Beijing. Source: CCTV

Belt and Road Initiative

Combat ‘with zero tolerance’: China urges Pakistan to keep up terror crackdown

Chinese interests in Pakistan, a key belt and road partner in the region, have faced increased terror threats as Beijing’s influence grows.

21 Jun 2023 - 8:12PM

China’s military

China plans to boost naval ties with Pakistan. How will India respond?

Chinese and Pakistani navy aims to ‘expand into new fields of cooperation’, seen as likely to irk India, which opposes any military aid to Pakistan and is vying with China for regional influence

10 May 2023 - 8:30PM

Two Sessions 2023

How does China pick top officials? Beijing mouthpiece sheds new light

The criteria include being 68 or younger and having more than five years of experience in ministerial or provincial leadership roles, according to state media in rare disclosure about nomination and promotion rules.

15 Mar 2023 - 10:05AMvideocam

According to Xinhua, President Xi Jinping was personally involved in consultations about selecting state officials last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Two Sessions 2023

Li Qiang is China’s new premier, but how much power will he wield?

Li Qiang was confirmed as China’s premier – its No 2 official – on Saturday during the ‘two sessions’, but the position is seen to hold diminishing authority as President Xi Jinping consolidates power.

14 Mar 2023 - 9:45AMvideocam

President Xi Jinping (right) and Li Qiang. Photo: kyodo

Two Sessions 2023

China’s military to refocus on R&D after decade-long hardware drive: analysts

More PLA resources to go towards integration and modernisation of the armed forces – rather than buying weapon systems, observers say.

6 Mar 2023 - 10:30PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2023

China’s army brass urges focus on urban combat in clear nod to Taiwan campaign

PLA lieutenant general and NPC deputy Ma Yiming urges speedy improvement of strategic capability to realise national reunification.

6 Mar 2023 - 10:09PMvideocam

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