Published On 4/7/2026
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Last update: 23:47 (Mecca time)
The Chinese army promoted two officers to the rank of general, in a move that paves the way for a broad leadership restructuring, following the dismissal of a number of its leaders in a long-term anti-corruption campaign.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as army chief, issued orders to promote Zhang Shuguang and Air Force Commander Wang Gang to the rank of general in a ceremony held on Friday. Zhang was also appointed head of the corruption investigation division of the Central Military Commission, the highest military body.
According to observers, this promotion qualifies them to fill vacancies in the seven-member committee, the number of whose members has actually decreased to two as a result of corruption investigations.
The committee is chaired by Xi Jinping, while the only other active member is Vice-Chairman Zhang Zhengmin. It is expected that a new committee will be announced in the fall of next year, with the end of the current committee’s 5-year term.
Investigations
Last January, the American Wall Street Journal revealed that Zhang Yuxia, the highest general in China, and one of the Chinese President’s most prominent allies, is now under investigation on major charges, the most serious of which is leaking sensitive information about China’s nuclear weapons program to the United States.
The charges against the Chinese military commander – according to the newspaper – included receiving bribes in exchange for promotions and high-ranking military positions.
In addition to financial corruption and leaking information about China’s nuclear weapons program, the Chinese military official is also accused of building influence networks that undermine the unity of the ruling Communist Party, and abusing his authority in the party’s highest military decision-making body, known as the Central Military Commission.
In October 2025, eight senior generals were expelled from the Communist Party on graft charges, including the country’s No. 2 general, He Weidong, who served under Xi and with Zhang in the Central Military Commission.
Two former defense ministers from the ruling party have been removed in the past few years on corruption charges.
Foreign diplomats and security analysts are watching developments closely, given Zhang’s closeness to Xi, the importance of the committee’s work in terms of leadership, as well as the People’s Liberation Army’s ongoing military modernization and military posture.
