Zhang Youxia's Visit to Russia: Cai Qi Thwarts Xi Jinping's Coup

That closed-door meeting in Russia that sent chills down Zhang Youxia’s spine(Screenshot from video)

[People News] This coup storm, which unfolded without gunfire, nearly altered the political landscape for the anti-Xi faction. It took place amid intense power struggles within Zhongnanhai. The key figures in this drama are four: Zhang Youxia, a military leader currently visiting Russia; Xi Jinping, the highest leader of the Communist Party of China who has lost military authority and is now making a desperate gamble; Cai Qi, a 'Ninth Thousand Years' who interrupted a deadly game at this critical juncture; and finally, the Russian supreme leader, Putin, who observed the unfolding events from Moscow with a detached perspective.

According to a report from Xiaowen Lunshi video, this situation began with what appeared to be a routine international military visit. However, the moment Zhang Youxia arrived in Russia, he had already stepped beyond the protective boundaries of the CCP's power. This unexpected development presented Xi Jinping with a rare opportunity for a counteroffensive—seizing the moment to launch a coup and reclaim military authority while Zhang was away.

Zhang Youxia's Visit to Russia

Zhang Youxia's trip to Russia was not as a national leader but rather in his capacity as a military leader. The underlying significance of this visit is clear: the CCP's military is establishing independent international relations. This shift indicates that the military no longer seeks diplomatic authorisation from Xi Jinping himself, but instead represents the military establishment as a whole.

Russia has extended significant courtesy to Zhang Youxia, welcoming him with elaborate ceremonies, organising high-level military discussions, facilitating visits to strategic weapon systems, and even allowing access to some missile launch control centres, all while secretly arranging for a personal meeting with Putin. This conveys a clear message: Zhang Youxia represents the military of the Chinese Communist Party, not Xi Jinping. For Xi Jinping, this is undoubtedly a harbinger of doom, as military authority is drifting away from him.

Xi Jinping's Coup

With Zhang Youxia in Russia, the Chinese Communist Party's military finds itself temporarily without a leader, and the Military Commission's office is unable to directly accept Zhang's commands. From a military security standpoint, this creates a frightening power vacuum, but for Xi Jinping, it presents an opportunity.

Consequently, Xi Jinping concocted a bold plan: while Zhang is in Russia, he would persuade Putin to 'delay' Zhang Youxia's return to China, effectively implementing a 'courtesy detention' under diplomatic pretences. As long as Zhang remains abroad, Xi can declare a domestic military emergency, asserting the need to restore full command authority of the Military Commission Chairman, initiate a security reorganisation of the Military Commission, and directly seize military power in the name of national security. This would allow him to execute a political 'soft coup' and take control of the military under the guise of state interests. Once military power is reclaimed, Zhang Youxia's return would render him vulnerable, akin to meat on a chopping block, destined to be eliminated and ultimately erased from history.

Xi Jinping understands that if he does not eliminate Zhang Youxia, he will inevitably face a complete reckoning, which amounts to a life-or-death gamble. He needs someone to assist him in this gamble, and that person is Putin. Consequently, Beijing sent a covert request to Moscow, proposing that Zhang Youxia's stay be extended for more in-depth military exchanges. While this may sound friendly on the surface, it conceals lethal intentions. Putin is certainly aware of this, but he is indifferent to who holds the title of the highest leader of the Communist Party; his primary concern is who can bring benefits to Russia. Putin recognises a crucial fact: it is not worth placing a bet on someone who has lost military power. If Xi Jinping's coup fails, he would have made a miscalculation, resulting in enmity with Zhang Youxia and the Chinese side. Thus, Putin neither rejected nor accepted the proposal, and everything continued as normal.

On the second day of Zhang Youxia's visit to Russia, unusual activities began to surface in Beijing. The public security special police were frequently mobilised, albeit not in uniform. Some personnel from the Central Military Commission's office were summoned for discussions, the military network underwent a new security audit, and security departments initiated investigations into the financial matters of certain military generals. Military-civilian integration enterprises were subjected to urgent audits, claiming to restore a comprehensive military security mechanism under the General Secretary's leadership. A 'soft coup' commenced, characterised by no arrests and no violent conflicts, yet every action resembled a silent knife closing in on the upper echelons of the military.

Cai Qi's coup was abruptly halted.

However, just as Xi Jinping was about to issue a significant order announcing the temporary return of the military to centralised leadership, Cai Qi unexpectedly intervened to prevent it. This was not an act of disloyalty, but rather a response driven by fear. At the meeting, Cai Qi directly vetoed the decision, citing not issues of legality or discipline, but real dangers. He believed that if the military did not cooperate, Xi Jinping's attempt to mobilise them could provoke a backlash against him. However, Cai Qi's actions were not aimed at protecting Xi but rather at safeguarding his own position. He understood that if a coup were to fail, he would face the same fate as Xi. Cai Qi recognised that the military no longer followed Xi Jinping's orders, the elders did not support him, the public security special police were hesitant to act, and the military commission was entirely under Zhang's influence. In this context, attempting a coup would not be a power grab but an act of self-destruction.

If Cai Qi's warning was based on reason, then Xi Jinping's reaction was one of anger at feeling abandoned. He resented the military's disobedience, the public security's inaction, the elders' lack of support, Cai Qi's obstruction, and even Putin's indifference as he watched the situation unfold without offering help. For someone used to controlling everything, realising that he could no longer command anything is not merely disappointing; it is despairing—he comes to see himself as just a puppet placed on the podium.

Putin did not detain Zhang Youxia, and Zhang returned to the country as planned. Zhang was certainly aware of everything that transpired after his departure, but he chose not to respond; it was as if nothing had happened. Zhang Youxia felt no need to retaliate, as the military now understood who could command them and who could not. All he needed to do was continue pursuing his own agenda. Meanwhile, Xi could only sit on the podium and watch as everything that once belonged to him slipped further away. △