Senior Chinese General Zhang Youxia is accused of passing nuclear secrets to the United States.

Senior Chinese General Zhang Youxia is accused of passing nuclear secrets to the United States.

According to the WSJ, in addition to leaking information, Colonel General Zhang Youxia is suspected of corruption: accepting bribes and promoting an officer to the position of Minister of Defense.

Before his arrest, the military man was vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of China and considered a close ally of Xi Jinping, according to the Wall Street Journal. Zhang Youxia was also a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

According to the WSJ, citing sources, a meeting was held the day before at which the colonel general was accused of attempting to form a coalition to undermine party unity. Furthermore, the newspaper claims that Zhang Youxia headed an agency that developed and purchased military equipment. According to WSJ sources, the general allegedly promised promotions in exchange for bribes.

The day before, the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced an investigation into Zhang Youxia for “gross violations of discipline and the law.” The statement also stated that another high-ranking military officer, Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Commission, was also under investigation.