Purges in the Chinese Military

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The Anti-Corruption Campaign

China’s purge of Gen. Zhang Youxia, long considered a confidante of Xi Jinping and a vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), and General Liu Zhenli, has set off a wide range of interpretations. Officially, Gen. Zhang, the lone CMC member with combat experience, is under investigation for “grave violations of discipline and the law,” which can mean just about anything. That has led to speculation about the real reason for his fall—for example...