China’s Top Military General Passed On Nuclear Secrets To The US? Beijing Probes Data Leak

Last Updated:January 26, 2026, 18:11 IST

China announced that it is investigating its most senior army officer Zhang Youxia for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Gen. Zhang Youxia was the highest military member just below President Xi Jinping.

China is investigating its top military general amid allegations that he passed sensitive nuclear weapons information to the United States, triggering the most serious shake-up of the country’s armed forces under President Xi Jinping.

China announced over the weekend that it is investigating its most senior army officer for suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Gen. Zhang Youxia was the highest-ranking military official below President Xi Jinping.

The Defence Ministry said on Saturday that Zhang, the senior of the two vice chairs of the Central Military Commission, is under investigation. Gen. Liu Zhenli, another commission member who led the Joint Staff Department, is also being investigated.

The move shakes almost the entire military commission, which is chaired by Xi, leaving only one of its six members still in place.

Biggest military purge under Xi

“This is one of the biggest purges of China’s military leadership in the history of the People’s Republic," said Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

Xi’s latest action marks the most aggressive crackdown on corruption and disloyalty in the armed forces since the era of Mao Zedong. The full impact on the army and the country is still unclear.

Alleged nuclear data leak

People briefed on the case said the most serious allegation is that Zhang leaked core technical data on China’s nuclear weapons to the United States. No public evidence has been presented.

Some of the evidence against Zhang reportedly came from Gu Jun, the former general manager of China National Nuclear Corp, which oversees civilian and military nuclear programmes. Beijing announced an investigation into Gu last Monday for suspected serious violations of party discipline and state law.

During Saturday’s closed-door briefing, officials said the probe into Gu had linked Zhang to a security breach in the nuclear sector. No details of the breach were disclosed.

Official response from Beijing

In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said the investigation shows the party’s “full-coverage, zero-tolerance approach to combating corruption".

Zhang, like Xi, is a “princeling", a term used for descendants of senior revolutionary leaders. Zhang’s father fought alongside Xi’s father during the civil war that brought the Communists to power in 1949.

“This move is unprecedented and represents the total destruction of the high command," said Christopher Johnson of China Strategies Group.

Links to former defence minister

Officials also linked Zhang’s fall to his role in promoting former defence minister Li Shangfu. Zhang allegedly helped Li rise in return for large bribes.

Li disappeared from public view in 2023, was later removed as defence minister, and was expelled from the party in 2024 for corruption.

Why the purge matters

The Defence Ministry has not explained the alleged wrongdoing in detail. An editorial in the People’s Liberation Army Daily said only that the case involved serious discipline and legal violations and showed China’s commitment to fighting corruption.

Analysts say the purges aim to reform the military and ensure loyalty to Xi. Since 2012, more than 200,000 officials have been punished in anti-corruption campaigns.

At least 17 PLA generals have been removed since Xi came to power, including eight former top military commission members.

Possible impact on Taiwan

Some experts believe the changes could affect China’s approach to Taiwan. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has increased military pressure on the island.

Thomas said the purge weakens China’s threat in the short term because the high command is in disarray, but strengthens it in the long term by creating a more loyal and less corrupt leadership.

Others say the changes do not significantly reduce the army’s readiness.

Unclear future for the commission

The military commission now has only one active member apart from Xi. It is unclear whether the vacant posts will be filled soon or left open until 2027, when new party leaders are due to be chosen.

As per reports, the moves would help “rejuvenate" the army, but analysts see no immediate pressure on Xi to appoint replacements.

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