China’s military leadership is facing one of its most dramatic shake-ups in decades, raising new questions about stability inside the People’s Liberation Army and the future security of the Taiwan Strait. On January 24, Beijing announced investigations into Central Military Commission vice chairman Zhang Youxia (張又俠) and Joint Staff chief Liu Zhenli (劉振立) for alleged serious violations of party discipline and state law. In a rare and unusually blunt response, the PLA’s official newspaper accused both men of betraying the trust placed in them and undermining the “CMC chair responsibility system,” a doctrine reinforcing Xi Jinping (習近平)’s absolute authority over the military. A follow-up commentary stressed that rank offers no immunity and past achievements provide no protection. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, Zhang is alleged to have accepted bribes linked to military promotions and, most explosively, to have leaked sensitive information rel...