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Kudatah!

Senior Chinese general Zhang Youxia has been accused of corruption and treason. He is alleged to have passed information on China’s nuclear program to the United States, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The general was part of Xi Jinping’s inner circle. His downfall is the result of a sweeping purge within China’s military leadership.

The arrest of such a figure is a shock even by Chinese standards. Before his detention, he served as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and was considered untouchable.

The removal of the general signals Xi’s push to secure total control over the military and sharply consolidate his power.

Zhang Youxia was the only person with enough military influence to theoretically counterbalance Xi Jinping himself. That figure no longer exists