Chinese General Accused of Leaking Nuclear Secrets to the US

Chinese authorities are investigating senior general Zhang Youxia over allegations that he leaked information about China’s nuclear arsenal to the United States and accepted bribes in exchange for military promotions, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

The newspaper reports that Zhang allegedly disclosed sensitive details about China’s nuclear weapons programme and received payments to facilitate promotions within the armed forces, including the rise of Li Shangfu to the post of defence minister. Authorities removed Li in 2023 following corruption allegations.

According to the report, senior military officials received a briefing on the case on January 24, shortly before China’s Ministry of Defence formally announced the launch of an investigation. Until recently, Zhang ranked among President Xi Jinping’s most trusted military allies.

The defence ministry issued a brief statement referring to “serious violations” of party discipline and the law. However, sources cited by the Wall Street Journal say investigators are examining Zhang’s role in forming political “cliques” and abusing power within the Central Military Commission, the top decision-making body of the Chinese armed forces.

Authorities are also reviewing Zhang’s oversight of a unit responsible for military research and procurement. Investigators believe he amassed significant wealth through defence procurement systems that manage vast budgets.

During the closed-door briefing, officials reportedly made their most serious allegation: that Zhang leaked critical technical data on China’s nuclear weapons to the United States.

According to the Wall Street Journal, part of the evidence against Zhang emerged from a separate case involving Wu Hun, former director of China National Nuclear Corp., the state-owned company overseeing China’s nuclear programmes. Authorities are also investigating Wu for “serious violations” of party discipline.

Officials reportedly linked Wu’s case to breaches of nuclear security that implicate Zhang, though they provided no further details. Neither Zhang nor Wu was available for comment. A spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington said the case demonstrates the leadership’s “zero tolerance” for corruption.

Most Aggressive Military Purge in Decades

Analysts describe the investigation as the most aggressive restructuring of China’s military leadership since the era of Mao Zedong. Zhang, like Xi Jinping, belongs to the group known as the “princelings,” descendants of prominent figures from the Communist revolution. Their family ties date back to the Chinese Civil War, adding to the political weight of the case.

The removal of such a powerful ally is widely seen as unprecedented and signals a near-complete reshuffle of the top military command. The case also links to the downfall of former defence minister Li Shangfu, whom Zhang allegedly helped promote in exchange for bribes.

President Xi has tasked a special team with reviewing Zhang’s tenure as commander of the Shenyang Military Region between 2007 and 2012. Authorities have confiscated mobile phones and communication devices from dozens of officers promoted under Zhang’s influence, while thousands of officials are now considered potential targets of investigation.

Analysts note that the developments demonstrate Xi’s firm consolidation of control over the armed forces. Party-linked media accuse Zhang of undermining the president’s absolute authority over the military.

Implications for the Military and Taiwan

According to the Wall Street Journal, the sweeping purge “sends a clear message that corruption, patronage networks, and the leakage of state secrets are treated as existential threats” to Beijing’s strategic objectives, including plans related to Taiwan.

At the same time, experts warn that the removal of senior leadership could temporarily weaken the operational readiness of the People’s Liberation Army. Since 2023, authorities have investigated or removed more than 50 senior figures from the military and defence industry, leaving a significant gap at the top of China’s military hierarchy.