Xi’s Takedown of Top General Raises Questions About Grip on Power

The news that Xi Jinping had taken out his top general came as a shock to every China observer, and sparked plenty of theories — some of which belong to the realm of Hollywood.

What’s not in doubt is the speed — and significance — of Zhang Youxia’s downfall. Saturday’s announcement that Zhang was being investigated for corruption came just four days after his abrupt absence from a Communist Party meeting. That compares with about six months between the disappearance and public confirmation of a probe for He Weidong, formerly China’s No. 2 general, who was removed last year.