Nuclear scandal in Beijing: WSJ reports on general suspected of leaking US secrets

A high-ranking Chinese general, Zhang Youxia, is suspected of passing key information about China's nuclear weapons to the United States. Itwas reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the course of a closed briefing for China's military leadership.

According to the newspaper, Zhang Youxia is also accused of large-scale corruption, abuse of power and the creation of political groups within the Communist Party. In particular, he is accused of attempts to build his own networks of influence that could undermine party unity, as well as abuse of power in the Central Military Commission, the highest military body of China.

The investigation into the general was announced shortly before the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced that it was investigating "serious violations of party discipline and state laws." Officially, no details were disclosed, but according to WSJ sources, the closed-door briefing included much harsher accusations.

In particular, the authorities are checking Zhang's activities as the head of the structure responsible for research, development and procurement of military equipment. According to sources, he could have received large bribes for promotion in the military procurement system with multibillion-dollar budgets.

The most high-profile accusation voiced during the briefing was the allegation that the United States had transferred basic technical data on nuclear weapons to China. Some of the evidence, according to the WSJ, came from Gu Jun, the former director general of the state-owned China National Nuclear Corp. which controls China's civilian and military nuclear programs. Beijing announced the investigation against Gu last week, also citing "serious violations of discipline and laws."

At the briefing, Zhang was also accused of promoting former Defense Minister Li Shangfu in exchange for bribes. According to the newspaper's interlocutors, it was Zhang who could have played a key role in Li's career growth.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed a special team to scrutinize Zhang Youxia's activities during his five-year tenure as commander of the Shenyang Military District in 2007-2012. According to the sources, the investigation team is already working in Shenyang and has deliberately located itself in civilian hotels rather than military bases, where the general could have had widespread support.

The authorities have also reportedly seized mobile devices from a number of officers who made their careers with Zhang, as well as from General Liu Zhenli, the chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose investigation was announced the same day.

The Wall Street Journal notes that since the summer of 2023, China has been conducting a large-scale purge of its military and defense leadership. According to official data, over the past 2.5 years, more than 50 high-ranking military and defense industry executives have been removed from office or investigated, including the commands responsible for Taiwan.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in December 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that China and russia strengthen cooperation in the military industry.

And in November, the Financial Times wrote that Chinese companies make russia pay through the nose for supplying goods needed for the russian military-industrial complex