5), is the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and has long been regarded as a close ally of President Xi Jinping. His investigation marks one of the most significant developments in China’s military and political oversight in recent years. While Chinese authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges, reporting from The Guardian notes that unverified claims suggest Zhang may have leaked information about China’s nuclear weapons programme to the United States and accepted bribes related to promotions. The reports have not been independently confirmed. According to media accounts, the alleged evidence emerged during a closed door briefing for senior military officers. In addition to the nuclear data claims, Zhang faces accusations of forming political cliques, abusing authority within the CMC, and overseeing corrupt practices in military procurement. Zhang’s investigation has sent shockwaves through Beijing’s military establishment. As a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo and a pivotal PLA figure, his fall highlights the intensity of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption and discipline campaign within the armed forces, a drive that has removed multiple high-ranking officers in recent years. Experts note that allegations involving nuclear leaks even if unverified, have raised international concerns. Some analysts interpret the investigation as part of broader efforts to reinforce party control over the military and eliminate entrenched power networks. China’s anti-graft campaign launched by President Xi in 2012, has targeted hundreds of thousands of officials across the party, government and military. However, reaching the upper echelons of the PLA is rare. Zhang’s investigation comes amid growing geopolitical tensions with the United States and heightened scrutiny over China’s military ambitions in the South and East China Seas and around Taiwan. Zhang’s future whether facing formal charges or removal from office remains unclear. Chinese authorities have neither confirmed the nuclear leak allegations nor outlined a timeline for the investigation. Source: The Guardian