Anti-Corruption Storm Morphs into Anti-Xi Wave: Zhang Youxia Strikes at Xi’s “Family Business”

Caption: Rumors from Beijing suggest plans to bring down the "New Gang of Four." (Illustration by People News)

[People News] Xi Jinping’s high-profile anti-corruption campaign to "protect the Party" might have unforeseen consequences, as the weapon of anti-corruption has seemingly been turned against him by political adversaries. Recently, a string of purges within the Chinese military has gone from online speculation to official confirmation at a dizzying pace. Generals are falling like dominoes, thrown into the boiling waters of anti-corruption by the disciplinary commission. According to Caixin, since March 2023, 14 military generals have been stripped of their positions as delegates to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), including four generals, eight lieutenant generals, and two major generals.

Notably, around the Third Plenary Session earlier this year, some of Xi Jinping’s trusted allies in the military faced ruthless purges. Among them, the investigation into Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and director of the Political Work Department, has attracted significant attention. Rumors suggest that Miao’s investigation represents a powerful counterattack by senior military and political leaders, led by Zhang Youxia, against Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan’s alleged “family business” within the military. This lends credence to external speculation that the anti-corruption storm may have fundamentally shifted into an anti-Xi wave or even a tsunami aimed at unseating him.

The Anti-Corruption Storm Transforms into an Anti-Xi Campaign

On December 25, the 13th meeting of the NPC Standing Committee dismissed eight individuals from their positions as NPC delegates. Among them, Lieutenant General You Haitao of the Army and Vice Admiral Li Pengcheng of the Navy were removed for serious disciplinary and legal violations. You Haitao was also relieved of his role on the NPC Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

You Haitao, a second-generation military officer, became deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region in 2013 and was promoted to lieutenant general the following year. Li Pengcheng, aged 61, was appointed commander of the Southern Theater Navy in 2024 and elevated to vice admiral. Although both were promoted to their ranks during Xi’s tenure, You Haitao’s factional affiliation is unclear, while Li Pengcheng is believed to be a protégé of Miao Hua and thus considered part of Xi’s camp.

On December 23, four generals—Army Commander Li Qiaoming, former Army Political Commissar Qin Shutong, Navy Political Commissar Yuan Huazhi, and Armed Police Commander Wang Chunning—were absent from a ceremony promoting Chen Hui to general and appointing him as the new Army Political Commissar. Among them, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning are identified as key Xi loyalists, while the status of Li Qiaoming remains uncertain.

On November 28, the Ministry of National Defense announced that CMC member and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua was under investigation. At the same time, rumors circulated that Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, had committed suicide. Both were considered Xi loyalists.

The downfall of these generals, most of whom are associated with Xi Jinping’s faction, indicates that his political weapon of anti-corruption has been seized by rivals like Zhang Youxia. Alongside earlier incidents involving Xi allies Zhong Shaojun, Qin Shengxiang, and Chen Guoqiang, as well as investigations into Dong Jun and Wang Houbin, the anti-corruption storm is increasingly resembling a wave to oust Xi. Zhang Youxia appears to be dismantling Xi’s military personnel arrangements under the guise of anti-corruption.

Last summer, a corruption scandal within the Rocket Force led to the purging of dozens of generals, including two former Ministers of National Defense, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, as well as two Rocket Force commanders, Li Yuchao and Zhou Yaning, and former Air Force Commander Ding Laihang. Over a year later, the power struggle within the military has engulfed every branch—land, sea, air, Rocket Force, and the Armed Police. Top commanders across all major branches and theater commands have been systematically purged, highlighting that the Chinese military has become the most corrupt armed force globally, and one with no cohesive leadership.

Zhang Youxia Arrests Miao Hua, Strikes at Xi Jinping’s “Family Business”

Various accounts have emerged regarding the reasons and political struggles behind Miao Hua’s investigation. Former PLA Navy Lieutenant Commander Yao Cheng revealed that Zhang Youxia acted in self-preservation and seized power to counter Xi Jinping, targeting Miao Hua, Xi’s military proxy. This explanation has gained widespread acceptance. Online narratives now extend the story, suggesting that the struggle between Xi and Zhang, centered on Miao Hua, also involves Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan, and the Central Military Commission Cadre Evaluation Committee she is linked to.

According to an informant familiar with Miao Hua, his downfall stemmed from breaking promises and crossing the red lines of senior military figures and political elders. The core issue reportedly lies with Peng Liyuan.

During the Cultural Revolution, figures like Jiang Qing and Ye Qun emerged as powerful "female rulers," creating political chaos within the Party, nearly leading to its collapse. As a result, a tacit consensus exists among senior CCP leaders to avoid allowing Party leaders’ wives to wield power. In the Deng Xiaoping and Hu-Wen eras, such phenomena were absent—spousal influence was kept in check, and collective leadership prevailed.

Xi Jinping, being inherently suspicious and surrounded by numerous adversaries, allegedly considered delegating power to Peng Liyuan upon encouragement from Cai Qi. The Central Military Commission Cadre Evaluation Committee, ostensibly designed for Peng Liyuan, allowed her to hold veto power over military personnel promotions, essentially making her a de facto third-ranking vice-chair of the Central Military Commission (CMC). This arrangement gave the couple full control over the military hierarchy.

However, this plan faced staunch opposition from Zhang Youxia and other senior military leaders, as well as political elders. They argued that the Party could not afford a repeat of Jiang Qing’s era. Xi’s opponents suggested that Peng Liyuan take up the role of chairing the Chinese Federation of Literary and Art Circles instead, but Peng declined, citing her reluctance to step into the political spotlight. Zhang Youxia then formed a united front with the military leadership and political elders, adamantly opposing the establishment of the Cadre Evaluation Committee, which Miao Hua initially agreed to.

Yet, Xi Jinping privately instructed Miao Hua to proceed with setting up the committee, despite opposition. Miao betrayed his earlier commitment to the military heads and established the committee under the auspices of the CMC Political Work Department. This enigmatic, unconventional institution thus came into existence. While formally part of the Political Work Department, it wielded powers surpassing the department’s.

The CCP has shrouded this committee in secrecy, revealing little about its origins, structure, or membership. Sparse official reports indicate it was founded in 2016 as “an important initiative to fully implement the CMC Chairman Responsibility System, ensuring precision in selecting personnel and adapting to reforms in leadership and command systems.” In essence, it became a central mechanism for Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan to control military appointments.

Miao Hua’s actions angered senior military leaders, prompting Zhang Youxia to act and bring him down. Rumors suggest Miao Hua has since been demoted to the rank of battalion officer and retained for minor duties—a punishment that, while not severely harmful, is deeply humiliating. If true, this development would signify a symbolic slap in the face to both Miao Hua and Xi Jinping’s authority.

These revelations align with the political logic of the Xi-Zhang power struggle but remain subject to verification. Ultimately, the downfall of Miao Hua is widely seen as targeting his patron, Xi Jinping.

Military Infighting Shakes CCP Foundation, Exposing Weaknesses to the World

The ongoing infighting and power struggles within the PLA have profoundly shaken the CCP’s political foundations. As the adage goes, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,” but internal divisions within the military can also dismantle political control. The fallout from these power struggles has begun to spill over, drawing international attention to the political dynamics behind the CCP’s military anti-corruption efforts.

On December 15, CNN published an article suggesting that Xi Jinping’s purge of allies like Miao Hua marks an escalation of his cleansing campaign and questions whether such purges strengthen military preparedness.

Similarly, the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2024 report on China’s military noted that the downfall of high-ranking PLA officers could hinder its modernization efforts. Earlier, the Financial Times reported that U.S. officials revealed an investigation into Dong Jun, leading the CCP Ministry of Defense to deny the claims and distract attention by announcing Miao Hua’s investigation.

On December 23, the Wall Street Journal reported that Xi Jinping remains committed to his “East rises, West declines” worldview. Even as he faces a more hardline Trump 2.0 era in the U.S., Xi continues to believe that his top-down governance model will ultimately enable China to surpass the United States economically.

This unwavering belief reflects a profound ignorance of geopolitical realities. In this century of great changes, Xi Jinping’s machinations seem to be accelerating the CCP’s march toward its ultimate demise. 

(Originally published by People News)