Zhang Youxia, former vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, was placed under investigation in January 2026 for serious violations of discipline, including factionalism, disloyalty, bribery, and dereliction of duty. He was removed from his CMC and National People’s Congress posts in August, then formally expelled from the Communist Party and military in September following a Politburo decision. His case was transferred to military prosecutors for review and prosecution. As of mid-October 2026, no trial date or sentencing has been announced. In comparable high-level PLA corruption cases, formal legal proceedings after expulsion have taken several months, making completion of a prison sentence before the end of 2026 unlikely under standard procedural timelines. Traders appear to view the remaining window as too narrow for full resolution despite the rapid political removal.