China’s Top General Accused of Giving Nuclear Secrets to U.S.
Bribery allegations have also been leveled against Gen. Zhang Youxia, whose downfall carries implications for the country’s military readiness
The Wall Street Journal has reported that China’s top ranking general is accused of leaking nuclear weapons data to the United States.
The WSJ’s report on Sunday comes as China’s defense ministry announced the day before that senior military officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are being probed for suspected serious discipline and law violations.
The WSJ cites people familiar with a high-level briefing on the allegations before the defense ministry made the announcement.
It also notes Zhang is under investigation for allegedly accepting huge sums of money in exchange for promoting officials and forming political cliques to build networks of influence that undermine party unity.
On Saturday, Hong Kong’s English-language daily the South China Morning Post also quoted sources as saying Zhang is under investigation for suspected violations, including corruption.
Official newspaper the People’s Liberation Army Daily on Sunday accused Zhang and others of having severely trampled on and undermined the institutional basis of the authority of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
It went on to say the officials significantly incited threats to the very basis of the party’s authority to govern and instigated corruption.
