A combat veteran, Zhang Youxia was once seen as the most trusted man in Xi Jinping’s military. Now he has been accused of disloyalty to Mr. Xi.

Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party's political center, remains a black box after the ousting of China's most senior general.

BEIJING, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping sought to strengthen ties with Vietnam in a call to its newly re-appointed leader, according to Chinese state media on Monday, saying the two nations should enhance cooperation in regional and international affairs.

China’s defence ministry has launched an investigation into its most senior general, sparking speculation about another purge. General Zhang Youxia was also thought to be a close ally of President Xi Jinping. Eight top generals were expelled from the ruling Communist Party on corruption charges in October last year.

President Xi Jinping’s move to probe his top general and one-time ally Zhang Youxia is the most stunning development yet in China’s biggest military purge in roughly half a century. It also has implications for Taiwan,

China’s investigation into its top general is taking President Xi Jinping’s years-long corruption purge into his innermost circle, underlining that even close personal ties do not offer protection when it comes to loyalty to the party leadership.

The removal of Zhang and Liu reduces the CMC to its smallest size in history, leaving as its only members Xi, who heads the body, and Zhang Shengmin, a political commissar who leads the military’s anti-corruption watchdog and was promoted to CMC vice-chair in October.

Xi Jinping's statement comes as India celebrates 77th Republic Day amid improved ties with its northern neighbor - Anadolu Ajansı