Who Is Zhang Shengmin? China Names Anti-Corruption Veteran As Second-Highest Military Officer

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 20:37 IST

General Zhang Shengmin, a key anti-corruption leader, was promoted to second-ranked vice chairman of the CMC after a purge of nine generals.

General Zhang Shengmin's appointment was announced at the conclusion of a four-day Central Committee meeting.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) promoted General Zhang Shengmin, a veteran officer who has led anti-corruption efforts within the military, to the position of second-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)- making him China’s second-highest military officer after President Xi Jinping.

The appointment, announced at the conclusion of a four-day Central Committee meeting, comes just days after the expulsion of nine senior generals in a sweeping purge- one of the largest public crackdowns on China’s armed forces in decades.

Who Is General Zhang Shengmin?

Zhang Shengmin, 67, hails from Shaanxi province and joined the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 1978. A career officer from the Rocket Force, Zhang Shengmin is known for his role as deputy secretary of the CMC’s Discipline Inspection Commission, the PLA’s top anti-graft watchdog.

Over the years, he has built a reputation for his work in internal oversight and political discipline, spearheading investigations into corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power among military officers- a role that has made him one of Xi Jinping’s most trusted enforcers. Following his promotion, Zhang Shengmin will serve under CMC first vice chairman Zhang Youxia, a long-time ally of Xi.

Zhang Shengmin’s Promotion Amid A Purge

Zhang Shengmin’s elevation comes as China’s military faces a major anti-corruption campaign. Last week, the country’s defence ministry confirmed that nine generals had been expelled from the Communist Party for “serious financial violations." Their removal marks one of the most extensive clean-ups in the PLA since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, reinforcing his long-running campaign to ensure the army’s loyalty to the Party.

In recent years, two defence ministers- Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu- were also dismissed under opaque circumstances as scrutiny within China’s defence establishment deepens.

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