China’s military command tightens discipline at the top in generals’ wake

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by William ZhengFebruary 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM

AI Summary

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China's Central Military Commission (CMC) is tightening Communist Party control over the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by updating disciplinary rules for party members. The revisions, approved by the CMC and effective March 1st, aim to address key concerns in disciplinary enforcement. This move follows the announcement of corruption investigations into top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Analysts believe the revisions are intended to mend loopholes in military discipline as investigators delve deeper into corruption cases and report findings to President Xi Jinping, the CMC's chief. The effort is overseen by Xi and CMC vice-chairman Zhang Shengmin, who leads the anti-corruption drive within the military.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Zhang Shengmin 60% PLA Daily ×270% Liu Zhenli 70% Zhang Youxia 80% Communist Party of China 80% Central Military Commission ×385% Xi Jinping 85% China 90% People's Liberation Army ×290%

Keywords

military discipline 90% people's liberation army 80% corruption 80% central military commission 70% disciplinary rules 70% communist party control 60% xi jinping 50% investigation 50%