Is PLA compromised? Top Chinese general leaked nuclear secrets to US: Report | World News

China’s top general is accused of leaking details of his nuclear weapons program to the United States while accepting bribes for favors such as officer promotions to the defense minister.

Chinese General Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping’s once trusted number two military leader and deputy chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is accused of leaking sensitive nuclear weapons program details to the United States while accepting huge bribes for promotions, including the elevation of an officer to defense minister, insiders said at a high-level briefing of senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The report comes as Xi Jinping abruptly purges China’s top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.

Beijing announced on Saturday that CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, China’s top uniformed officer and Chief of the Joint Staff Liu Zhenli, is facing investigations for serious disciplinary violations, according to a different report by the South China Morning Post.

This sudden expulsion of senior military officials and the shakeup in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) raises concerns about organizational violations.

Also Read: CIA Urges Whistleblowers Against China With Viral X Post – Watch

Have PLA’s Nuclear Secrets Revealed?

China’s top general faces explosive accusations of betraying US over nuclear weapons program details, also citing recent X post that went viral.

The video shared by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) targets potential Asian informants against China and signals aggressive espionage efforts and desperation for insiders.

The post, originally in Mandarin and published by the Official @CIA post, appeals to insiders: “CIA is looking for truth tellers in China, follow these safe communication steps.” It’s a bold hiring move amid US-China tensions.

pic.twitter.com/LlLLdfA2Q4— CIA (@CIA) January 15, 2026

The Wall Street Journal report also alleged that Zhang, a Chinese military official, abused his authority as first vice chairman of the CMC and a member of the Politburo to establish networks of influence that undermined Party unity.

Officials accused of espionage accepted large sums of bribes for promotions within the military’s vast Research and Development and equipment procurement system that they oversaw.
A separate WSJ report attributes him to revealing nuclear weapons program secrets to US intelligence; This is a disaster amidst Taiwan tensions.

This explosive dismissal of officials followed the parallel dismissal of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief Liu Zhenli, decimating Xi’s inner circle in the 2022 CMC.

The solemnity of the closed session signals Zhang’s fall from ‘most trusted ally’ to existential threat, raising fears of a crisis of loyalty to the PLA as Xi eyes control of the 2027 Party Congress.