Economist Podcasts General ejection: China’s military purge
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Jan 27, 2026 
Sarah Larniuk, Deputy Editor of The Intelligence and on-the-ground reporter in Kyiv, describes life under strikes and freezing outages. The show also digs into a surprising probe of two top Chinese generals and what it means for leadership and military readiness. Finally, the rise of Strava and its IPO ambitions and why athletes flock to its social fitness features are explored.
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Trusted General Suddenly Under Scrutiny
- Xi Jinping has promoted and trusted Zhang Yuxia through multiple top roles, making his investigation especially striking.
- Zhang's princeling background and combat experience made him seem untouchable until now.
Nerve Centre Commander Also Investigated
- General Liu Chen Li heads the Joint Staff Department, the military's nerve centre overseeing operations and intelligence.
- His close ties to Zhang suggest the two investigations are connected, not isolated incidents.
Top Military Leadership Vastly Thinned
- The two generals haven't yet been officially removed but investigations usually lead to detention and formal dismissal.
- The Central Military Commission now has only two active members in uniform: Xi and Zhang Shengmin.