China has removed a senior military leader, General Zhang Youxia, in a personnel shake‑up that analysts view as part of Xi Jinping’s ongoing consolidation of authority over the People’s Liberation Army. Reported allegations of "violations of discipline and the law" accompanied Zhang’s ouster; observers say the move signals tighter political control and a reordering of the high command at a sensitive strategic moment. The personnel changes could affect military policy, command structures and China’s regional posture, and they underscore Beijing’s emphasis on political loyalty within defence institutions as tensions in the Indo-Pacific persist.