Zhang Youxia, during his speech on stage, was full of assertiveness, displaying the demeanour of a top military boss. Military officers below the stage were taking notes with their heads down, showing complete submission. (video screenshot).
[People News] High-Level Military Purges and Public Opinion Shock
On the eve of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a significant and profound power upheaval occurred within the Chinese military. On the afternoon of October 17, 2025, the spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence of the Communist Party of China officially announced the initiation of case reviews for nine generals, including He Weidong, Miao Hua, and Lin Xiangyang.
This announcement detonated the global internet like a deep-sea nuclear explosion, leading to widespread speculation and in-depth analysis in the international community about whether Xi Jinping would hand over power and achieve an orderly retirement at the Fourth Plenary Session. This purge not only revealed a glimpse of the deep-seated contradictions within the military but also underscored the urgency and complexity of the high-level power restructuring, suggesting that the political ecology of the Communist Party of China may be approaching a historic turning point and profound changes.
Interestingly, this major news was briefly featured on the front pages of the party media outlets Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily for only a few hours before it quickly faded from public view. The following day, on the morning of October 18, the People's Liberation Army Daily published an editorial titled 'Resolutely Carrying Forward the Anti-Corruption Struggle in the Military to the End.' Although Xinhua News Agency reprinted this article, it was only available for a few hours, while the People's Daily completely ignored it. In contrast, the Chinese military network and military newspaper continuously promoted related reports throughout the day.
The evident discord between the party media and military media not only underscores the deep divisions and potential rifts within the high-level power structure but also implies that Zhang Youxia (張又俠) took the initiative to announce the downfall of Xi Jinping's (習近平) trusted aides through military newspaper channels, strategically positioning himself ahead of the Fourth Plenary Session. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping appears to be striving to downplay and obscure the harsh reality of his diminishing military power by utilising the party media system controlled by Cai Qi (蔡奇), adopting a stance of stubborn resistance. This seemingly misaligned media strategy is, in fact, a subtle manoeuvre in the power chess game, revealing the fierce and secretive factional struggles within the upper ranks of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Zhang Youxia's Strategic Move
Analysts indicate that Zhang Youxia leveraged the military newspaper as a platform to be the first to reveal the downfall of Xi Jinping's trusted aides, effectively capturing the high ground in public opinion and setting the stage for the Fourth Plenary Session. Concurrently, Xi Jinping's faction attempted to downplay the incident's impact through a discreet media approach, aiming to maintain an appearance of stability.
Some perspectives argue that the downfall of these nine generals does not necessarily indicate that Xi Jinping has completely lost military power; rather, it reflects a Stalinist-style purge of the military executed by him as a dictator. However, this interpretation seems somewhat strained. If Xi Jinping still held significant power, the party media and military newspapers would have vigorously promoted the incident to assert his authority, serve as a warning, intimidate others, and solidify his ruling foundation. The current evasiveness and reluctance of the party media suggest that Xi Jinping's influence within the military has nearly evaporated, and the overall trend has shifted away from him.
Proponents of the view that 'Xi Jinping still wields significant power' frequently reference statements from the editorial of the 'People's Liberation Army Daily'. These include phrases like 'In terms of ideology, politics, and action, we must maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and resolutely obey the commands of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Xi' and 'Deeply understand the decisive significance of the 'Two Establishments', enhance the 'Four Consciousnesses', strengthen the 'Four Confidences', and achieve the 'Two Safeguards', implementing the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission'. They use these as evidence of Xi Jinping's consolidation of military power, while dismissing rumours about the Fourth Plenary Session's abdication as slander or over-interpretation.
However, a simple logical analysis can dismantle this argument: If the editorial genuinely represented Xi Jinping's stance, why is the party media propaganda system overseen by Cai Qi so silent and evasive on the matter? If Xi Jinping's power were indeed arbitrary and unchecked, the rumors that have circulated overseas since last year's Third Plenary Session about Zhang Youxia being the 'bow warrior' predicted to overthrow Xi Jinping, as mentioned in the 'Tui Bei Tu', would have prompted him to act similarly to how he dealt with Li Keqiang, swiftly removing Zhang Youxia from the scene. In reality, however, Zhang Youxia remains unharmed, while Xi Jinping's military loyalists are being ousted one after another. This stark contrast highlights the imbalance of power.
A rare political charge has emerged for the first time.
A deeper examination of the editorial in the "Liberation Army Daily" highlights two key points that deserve special attention. Firstly, the classification of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others extends beyond economic crimes to include accusations of being political reactionaries. They are described as having "betrayed their original mission, lost party principles, collapsed in faith, and failed in loyalty, seriously betraying the trust of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, and severely undermining the principle of the Party's command over the military and the accountability of the Chairman of the Military Commission."
The term "undermining the Party's command over the military" is a new addition to military anti-corruption reports, and it essentially refers to counter-revolutionary crimes and treason, which can be equated to a death sentence. This escalation of charges not only heightens the intensity of the purges but also illustrates the harsh realities of power struggles. Did He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others actually fall from grace due to their betrayal of Xi Jinping? On the contrary, rumours from around June of this year suggest that after losing military authority, Xi Jinping attempted to rally forces within the military for a counteroffensive. He Weidong and others were allegedly involved in a military coup that was ultimately crushed by the elder faction in alliance with Zhang Youxia. Additional reports claim that Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong, Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission He Hongjun, and former Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang took part in an armed counterattack with real weapons, which ultimately failed and resulted in their punishment.
On June 2, 2025, the Chinese Communist Party officially announced the death of former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xu Qiliang, who passed away in Beijing at the age of 75. At his funeral on June 8, the grief and avoidance evident in the eyes of Xu Qiliang's widow as she shook hands with Xi Jinping left a lasting impression. Even more strangely, the name of He Weidong mysteriously vanished from the list of those sending flower wreaths, while Hu Jintao's name was prominently featured, with CCTV even providing him with a dedicated camera shot.
Analysts from outside the party interpret these chaotic events as signs of Xi Jinping's diminishing power amid high-level political struggles, resembling the tip of an iceberg that hints at deeper turmoil ahead. This time, Zhang Youxia publicly announced the crimes of nine individuals under the pretext of "anti-party" actions, effectively acting to "cleanse the court" for Xi Jinping. This strategy, which appears to defend Xi Jinping's reputation while actually opposing him, is a clever manoeuvre that leaves Xi Jinping feeling like a mute person eating bitter herbs, unable to voice his frustrations. The ingenuity of this approach highlights Zhang Youxia's skill and decisiveness in the ongoing power struggle.
Additionally, the editorial notes that "the corruption issues involving He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, and others are the result of the toxic legacy of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou" and emphasizes, "There are no pardons or 'iron-clad guarantees', no 'iron-hat kings', and we will uphold a policy of no forbidden zones, full coverage, and zero tolerance." If the first point serves to define, characterize, and condemn the Xi faction within the military, the second point sends a strong warning to all officials aligned with Xi, indicating that the elder faction and Zhang Youxia are issuing an ultimatum, signaling the start of a comprehensive "de-Xiification" process within the military.
Strategic considerations and signals for surrender from the anti-Xi faction
So why does the editorial still reference terms like "Xi core" and "two-four-four-two"? The elder faction within the Party Central Committee may have several strategic considerations:
First, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to maintain the illusion of unity and harmony to prevent the regime from collapsing and to avoid the public escalation of violent conflicts that could lead to a total political breakdown.
Second, it is crucial to stabilise military morale. The CCP's military operates as a highly closed system, with 2 million grassroots officers and soldiers who have long been subjected to ideological indoctrination and have limited access to information. Public exposure of internal power struggles could lead to a loss of morale and even a split within the military. Consequently, Zhang Youxia and others employ the ambiguous language typical of CCP culture, using phrases like 'you know what I mean' to convey their message, allowing those in the know to understand the implications. It is evident that Xi Jinping's power is diminishing, leaving only a superficial facade. This situation is reminiscent of Yu Menglong, who appeared jovial and had countless fans in public, yet few could have anticipated the tight control he was under behind the scenes, with his life in jeopardy. Rumours suggest that Yu Menglong died due to a ritual conducted by Xi Jinping, which serves as poetic justice; the current performance of Xi Jinping and his fate bear a striking resemblance to that of Yu Menglong, filled with historical irony and cyclical patterns.
Third, on the eve of the Fourth Plenary Session, a gun with unloaded ammunition was presented to Xi Jinping to observe his decision-making. If Xi Jinping is astute, he might choose to step back at the Fourth Plenary Session and withdraw without harm, potentially safeguarding his life and that of his family. After all, the elder statesmen are primarily reformists who would not seek total annihilation unless absolutely necessary. However, if Xi Jinping chooses to resist stubbornly, the consequences could be dire. Zhang Youxia's editorial in the People's Liberation Army Daily essentially serves as a carefully crafted letter of surrender, compelling Xi Jinping to draft a resignation edict within just two days and read it as planned at the Fourth Plenary Session. This high-pressure strategy resembles the sword of Damocles hanging over his head, indicating the urgency and brutality of the impending power transition.
The ongoing purges and the looming crises facing the CCP are evident.
On October 18, coinciding with the release of an editorial by the "People's Liberation Army Daily," renowned independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed shocking insider information through reliable sources: Following the official announcement of the downfall of nine generals, four current generals have also been dismissed, including Xu Xueqiang, Minister of Equipment Development of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military; Xu Qiling, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department; Xu Xisheng, Political Commissar of the Rocket Force; and Xiao Tianliang, President of the National Defense University. Additionally, nine lieutenant generals and fifteen major generals have been removed from their positions, including Xi Jinping's close ally, former Director of the Military Affairs Office, and current Political Commissar of the National Defense University, Zhong Shaojun.
Cai Shenkun emphasised, "The exclusive information I have obtained indicates that there are still hundreds of generals awaiting review and undergoing rigorous investigations. The so-called 'Xi's Army' formed after the 20th National Congress has essentially been completely dismantled." This ongoing large-scale purge resembles a relentless storm, sweeping through the entire military sector and marking a fevered stage in the reshaping of the power structure.
Regardless, the Fourth Plenary Session will serve as another critical turning point in the history of power struggles within the CCP. Whether Xi Jinping ultimately remains in power or steps down, the internal power struggle has evolved into a life-and-death zero-sum game, completely irreconcilable. The CCP currently faces significant internal and external challenges: a major economic downturn, widespread civil unrest, and numerous crises, with the prospect of disintegration looming ever closer. This accumulation of pressures is akin to a giant ship teetering on the brink, struggling to navigate through the storm, foreshadowing the imminent end of the CCP system.
(First published by People News) △
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!