Zhang Youxia, former first-ranked vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, was placed under investigation in January 2026 for serious violations of discipline and law, including alleged corruption, factionalism, and resistance to Xi Jinping’s 2027 military modernization targets. Official announcements and PLA Daily editorials framed the case as undermining party control of the armed forces. In late August 2026, the NPC Standing Committee formally removed him from CMC and legislative posts, completing his purge from power alongside Liu Zhenli and leaving the CMC with only two listed members. No public trial, formal charges, or sentencing has occurred in the nine months since the investigation began. With roughly three and a half months remaining before 2027 and typical timelines for elite military cases, traders view a prison sentence by the deadline as unlikely. The ongoing anti-corruption campaign and consolidation of Xi’s authority over the PLA continue to shape expectations around any eventual legal resolution.