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ChinaThe top-ranking general was removed by President Xi following a ‘gunfight in’Beijing‘, a source has stated.

Zhang Youxia, who was previously seen as President Xi’s most reliable advisor, is alleged to have ‘disclosed nuclear information to the United States’ before his dismissal last week.

The operation was a component of an extensive anti-corruption initiative that has disciplined over 200,000 officials since the president took office in 2012.

Another senior member of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Liu Zhenli, is also being probed by China’s Communist Party.

It has now come to light that Gen Zhang’s removal occurred after he is alleged to have provided critical information about China’snuclear weapons to the US.

Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian, of the National University ofSingapore, reacted to rumors about the 75-year-old’s decline.

He said to the BBC: ‘Everything from leaking nuclear secrets to the United States to planning a coup and internal conflicts. There are even rumors of a shootout in Beijing.’

But the fall of Zhang and Liu, together with the rampant speculation, reveals two points: that Xi is still untouchable, and there are substantial restrictions on information in Beijing, which creates uncertainty and encourages such speculation.

General Zhang acted as the operational leader of the People’s Liberation Army and was a member of the ruling Politburo prior to the Central Military Commission (CMC) initiating an inquiry into him on Saturday.

The military legislative authority only loosely outlined Zhang’s removal – mentioning breaches of discipline and national law – but insiders revealed the true extent of his supposed treachery.

Other sources also shared with The Wall Street Journal that they had obtained details regarding a suspected disclosure of military information during a private meeting discussing the inquiry over the weekend.

In addition to being suspected of disclosing the nation’s nuclear information, he was also charged with attempting to weaken the Communist Party’s solidarity by forming ‘political factions’ and with misusing his power.

General Zhang was also accused of taking bribes in exchange for official actions, such as the promotion of former Defense Minister Li Shangfu—who was removed from his post in 2023 due to corruption and expelled from the party the subsequent year.

A significant portion of the incriminating evidence presented against General Zhang was reportedly obtained from Gu Jun, who previously oversaw the China National Nuclear Corporation.

This government-owned company is responsible for the country’s civilian and defense nuclear initiatives.

Mr. Gu is also under investigation for breaches of party discipline and violations of state laws.

During a private meeting on Saturday, officials are said to have disclosed the probe connecting Gu to Zhang in relation to a nuclear data leak.

However, the specifics of the alleged violation were not disclosed, according to sources.

The People’s Liberation Army Daily stated that the removal demonstrated the Communist Party’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards ‘punishing corruption… regardless of who is involved or how high their position’.

Officials suggest that the departure of General Zhang, a childhood companion of President Xi, may hinder any efforts to take control of Taiwan through military action.

The general was regarded as crucial to the modernization initiatives within the Chinese military due to his position as senior vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Lyle Morris, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank, likened President Xi’s actions to a ‘complete cleaning of the house… the biggest purge in Chinese history since 1949’.

Mr. Morris stated that the removal might plunge the PLA into ‘chaos’.

He said to The Telegraph: “We can all rest easy for many years.”

There’s no chance they can handle the Taiwan situation without top leaders overseeing it.

The Communist Party removed He Weidong, the other vice chair of the commission, in October and appointed Zhang Shengmin, a member of the commission, as his replacement.

In 2024, the party removed two ex-defense ministers due to allegations of corruption.

The CMC has now shrunk to its smallest ever size, with only two members – comprising Mr. Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the military’s anti-corruption official, who was appointed as vice-chair of the CMC in October.

Stories spread on Tuesday regarding the situation of Generals Zhang and Liu after they did not appear in a televised party meeting.

A person involved in the case revealed to the South China Morning Post that General Zhang was charged with corruption, specifically for not managing his family members properly.

Christopher K Johnson, a former CIA analyst specializing in high-level Chinese politics, stated that Beijing has the ability to produce advanced, high-tech weaponry.

Nevertheless, he mentioned that the nation’s vulnerability lies in its absence of ‘software’ capable of executing extensive military operations.

However, Mr. Morris noted that the removals in reality indicated that President Xi enjoys a great deal of support within the party and is completely in control.

Last year, speculation circulated in Beijing regarding a conflict over authority between Zhang and Xi.

General Zhang was reportedly less optimistic than President Xi regarding China’s chances of succeeding in taking control of Taiwan.

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