An editorial to be published on Sunday by a flagship newspaper of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pledges to wage and win the war against corruption in the military.
China announced on Saturday the opening of an investigation into two senior military officials, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law.
Zhang Youxia is a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Liu Zhenli is a member of the CMC and chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC.
The decision by the CPC Central Committee to investigate Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli once again demonstrated the clear position of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC that in the fight against corruption, no area is excluded, no ground is left unturned, and no tolerance is allowed, according to the People’s Liberation Army Daily.
It shows the Party’s determination to persevere in the fight against corruption and its firm stance that regardless of their identity and position, anyone involved in corruption cases will be treated without leniency, the article said.
The editorial hails this investigation as a major result of the fight against corruption and an important demonstration of the determination and strength of the Party and the army, adding that it is of great importance in winning this difficult, long and all-out battle within the army.
Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, as senior officials of the Party and the military, seriously betrayed the trust placed in them by the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, and seriously flouted and undermined the system of full responsibility of the CMC chairman, according to the PLA Daily.
According to the editorial, they have significantly worsened the political and corruption problems that threaten the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces and undermine the foundations of its governance.
They have seriously tarnished the image and authority of the CMC leadership and have seriously undermined the political and ideological foundations of unity and progress among all military personnel.
They have seriously damaged efforts to strengthen political loyalty within the army, the military political environment and combat readiness as a whole, which has a serious negative impact on the Party, the country and the army.
The investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli will help the army undergo in-depth renewal, injecting powerful momentum into the development of a strong army, the PLA Daily said.
The editorial points out that it has been fully demonstrated that the more the army fights corruption, the stronger and purer it becomes, and the more its combat capability increases. The more thoroughly corruption is eradicated, the more confident and capable the armed forces will be of achieving the PLA’s centenary goal.
Under the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core leader, the PLA will resolutely eliminate all forms of inertia and corruption, and always remain the heroic armed forces that the Party and the people can fully trust and rely on, PLA Daily said.
The year 2026 marks the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and is a crucial year in the arduous journey towards achieving the PLA’s centenary goals, the article noted. The military as a whole must advance the strict self-governance of the Party and the military in all respects, with higher standards and more concrete measures.
The editorial calls for continued efforts to lock power within the cage of institutions and concerted efforts to eliminate breeding grounds and conditions that foster corruption.
Party members and cadres in the military, especially those in senior positions, should consolidate their ideals and beliefs, strengthen their political integrity, improve their conduct, and resolutely implement the major decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, the CMC and Chairman Xi, the article said.
The military should unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core leader, implement the CMC chairman’s full responsibility system, and accelerate the construction of a world-class army, the article noted.
