Setting aside President Xi Jinping, Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and considered the No. 1 in the Chinese military hierarchy, was purged because he passed nuclear weapons-related secrets to the United States, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported exclusively on the 25th local time.
Citing well-informed sources, the WSJ said that although Zhang Youxia had been known to have fallen over corruption allegations, in fact he was purged after it emerged that he leaked core technology of China's nuclear weapons to the United States.
Up to now, many foreign media outlets have reported that Zhang Youxia was purged for allegedly forming a political faction and taking bribes in the weapons procurement process. But the WSJ, citing key officials, said the decisive factor in Zhang Youxia's downfall was the leak of nuclear secrets.
The allegation is said to have come to light during the investigation of Gu Jun, CEO of the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation, which oversees China's civilian and military nuclear programs overall.
Once this was confirmed, the WSJ said, Zhang Youxia could not avoid being purged despite being one of President Xi Jinping's closest aides.
Like Xi Jinping, Zhang Youxia is from the princeling faction. His father, Zhang Zhongxun, is known as a revolutionary elder who, during China's revolution, served in the Northwest Field Army headquarters with Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun.
Zhang Youxia also played a key role in the process of consolidating control over the military after Xi Jinping took power and has been called the "most trusted of trusted aides" within China's military.