"That closed-door meeting in Russia that sent chills down Zhang Youxia’s spine"(Screenshot from video)
[People News] Recently, a piece of news that sent chills down the spines of all senior generals in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military has spread rapidly through the official circles of the capital and even reached overseas.
The central figure in this news is not just anyone; he is the youngest general since the founding of the CCP, known as the 'Flying General' who commands China's air supremacy, and the current commander of the CCP Air Force—Chang Dingqiu.
Reports indicate that this 58-year-old, a top-level pilot with outstanding physical fitness, the leading figure in the Air Force, suddenly died of a heart attack during a retention interview.
A heart attack, yet another heart attack. In the lexicon of the CCP's officialdom, this term has become a convenient euphemism for non-natural deaths.
Former Premier Li Keqiang suffered a heart attack in a swimming pool; former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Qiliang had a heart attack while exercising in the morning; and now, the commander of the CCP Air Force, Chang Dingqiu, experienced a heart attack in an interrogation room. This raises eyebrows, as it seems that in the upper echelons of the CCP, if one's heart is not made of iron, then a 'heart attack' appears to be a common route to death.
The Senior Officials of the CCP Air Force Have Been Swept Away
Someone specifically looked into the media's public information regarding Chang Dingqiu. It was truly shocking to find that he had not been seen in the official media since July 31 of this year, during the August 1st Army Day reception. At that time, Chang Dingqiu was dressed in a general's uniform, seated at the main table, next to Air Force Political Commissar Guo Pu. The camera from CCTV scanned over, and from his complexion and demeanour, there was no indication of any health issues. At that moment, he appeared to be safe, at least on the surface.
Reflecting on his career, on September 28, 2021, at the 13th Zhuhai Airshow, Chang Dingqiu officially took command of the Air Force. This marked his first public appearance in this role, where he delivered an enthusiastic speech at the opening ceremony, presenting the so-called new image of the Chinese Communist Party Air Force to the world. It was his debut and a significant moment for him.
Since that time, he has never missed any major military display events. He was present at the Changchun Airshow in 2022 and again at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024. This has become a routine, establishing a political pattern for Chang Dingqiu.
However, on September 19 of this year, the skies over Changchun were still bustling with activity, as J-20s and Y-20s soared overhead, the roar of fighter jets echoing loudly. Yet, when looking towards the main stage, the most crucial position was conspicuously empty—Chang Dingqiu had seemingly vanished.
One would expect that if the commander is absent, the political commissar would be present, right? And if the political commissar is absent, the deputy commander should step in, correct? However, both Air Force Political Commissar Guo Pu and the deputy commander responsible for the airshow, Yu Qingjiang, were also missing.
At this major event led by the Air Force, which should have been their home ground, the commander, political commissar, and responsible deputy commander all went missing. This situation is akin to being 'unmanned'.
A commander in charge of hundreds of thousands of airmen and thousands of aircraft, along with his political commissar and deputy, collectively disappeared from their most significant home event, with no official explanation provided. The only plausible explanation is that they have simultaneously lost their freedom. Chang Dingqiu did not wish to miss the Changchun event; he, along with his colleagues, was restrained.
The Baidu Encyclopedia entry for the 'People's Liberation Army Air Force' features the names of its first commander, Liu Yalou, and first political commissar, Xiao Hua, both of whom are detailed in their respective sections. The page also lists the 'Current Commander Chang Dingqiu' and 'Current Political Commissar Guo Puxiao'.
However, clicking on Chang Dingqiu's name leads to a message stating: 'Sorry, the page you are visiting does not exist.'
Similarly, clicking on Guo Puxiao's name results in the same message: 'Sorry, the page you are visiting does not exist.'
When you search for 'Chang Dingqiu', 'Guo Puxiao', or 'Air Force Deputy Commander Yu Qingjiang', a stark message appears: 'Sorry, Baidu Encyclopedia has not yet included this entry.'
This 'no such person' response reveals a situation that is far more serious and enigmatic than typical corruption scandals.
This is undoubtedly an emergency censorship tactic employed by the propaganda system, reflecting extreme chaos or panic following the mass removal of the Air Force's top leadership.
In the political landscape of the Chinese Communist Party, this phenomenon is termed 'social death', often serving as a precursor to physical control and the termination of political life. This is not merely a 'heart attack'; it is clearly indicative of a 'group annihilation' within the Air Force command. This is not just a personnel change; it is a purge, a complete and trace-free cleansing.
This situation underscores more than any rumour could: the structure of the Chinese Communist Party Air Force has utterly collapsed, leaving no supporting pillars behind.
The recent 'new death news' circulating online, regardless of its truthfulness, conveys a delayed signal. Much like the starlight observed by astronomers, which was emitted tens of thousands of years ago, the death news we are currently hearing signifies the sound of boots finally hitting the ground.
This suggests that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has likely completed its internal procedures regarding Chang Dingqiu and his team; in other words, they believe it is appropriate to let some rumours surface, confirming the fundamental fact that something has indeed happened to Chang Dingqiu.
Who exactly is Chang Dingqiu associated with?
In recent days, there has been a narrative emerging online, with some so-called 'internal leaks' suggesting that Chang Dingqiu is actually aligned with Hu Jintao, a remnant of the Youth League faction embedded within the military. Some have even cited his promotion to assistant chief of staff of the Air Force during Hu Jintao's tenure in 2011 as evidence. The implication here is that Xi Jinping is now removing these remnants, purging the old guard from the previous administration.
However, such analyses are either overly simplistic, failing to grasp the power dynamics within the CCP, or they are attempts to whitewash someone's reputation, intentionally obfuscating the reality of the infighting within Zhongnanhai.
Chang Dingqiu's background is quite intriguing. While it is true that he began his career during the Hu-Wen era, his significant rise to power, which has made others envious, occurred only after Xi Jinping assumed office in 2012.
The 'September 3 Military Parade' in 2015 marked the first major military parade held after Xi Jinping took office, serving as a crucial moment for him to showcase to the world and to military elders that he had firmly established control over military power.
At that moment, a formation of J-10 fighter jets soared over Tiananmen Square. The general leading this team was Chang Dingqiu.
The role of parade leader is not simply given to anyone who can fly well. It requires passing through multiple layers of political scrutiny and must be someone whom the Chairman of the Military Commission trusts the most, someone he wishes to establish as a benchmark and showcase.
Xi Jinping selected Chang Dingqiu to pilot the aircraft over Tiananmen and accept his review; this was a grand political ceremony. The few minutes Chang Dingqiu spent in the air represented his strongest declaration of loyalty to Xi Jinping.
Xi Jinping's satisfied smile from the tower conveyed to the entire military: Look, this is my person—young, technically proficient, capable of flying, and obedient.
Following this, Chang Dingqiu's rate of promotion was even faster than that of the J-20. During the 2016 military reform, when the five major theatre commands were established, Chang Dingqiu was directly promoted to Deputy Commander of the Southern Theatre, making him the youngest theatre-level general in the entire military at that time. In 2021, he assumed the role of Air Force Commander and was promoted to General, setting a new record in the military.
This exemplifies the typical treatment afforded to the 'Xi family army,' a rise that came straight from a helicopter. If he were a staunch loyalist of Hu Jintao, if he still harboured sentiments for the previous regime, would Xi Jinping, with his suspicious nature, allow him to control China's air supremacy, to protect the skies over Beijing, and to entrust the safety above Zhongnanhai to him? Absolutely not.
Thus, the conclusion is clear: Chang Dingqiu is a quintessential member of the Xi family army, a military reform model meticulously nurtured and promoted by Xi Jinping himself.
Chang Dingqiu must be removed.
Since the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, Xi Jinping's military authority has been significantly diminished.
The current configuration of the Central Military Commission is as follows: Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia serves as the de facto leader, a figure aligned with the red second-generation elders; Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhang Shengmin wields significant power and is a close ally of Zhang Youxia; Chief of the Joint Staff Liu Zhenli controls military orders and is a trusted subordinate of Zhang Youxia.
These individuals have united, forming a robust anti-Xi coalition, or more precisely, an alliance that undermines Xi Jinping's authority.
Why does Zhang Youxia need to remove Chang Dingqiu? The Air Force is crucial; in modern warfare, air superiority is essential. Regardless of the strength of ground forces, if the skies are dominated by the enemy, they become easy targets.
Moreover, in the power struggles within Zhongnanhai, the Air Force is tasked with defending the capital region, overseeing the air defence identification zone around Beijing, and ensuring the safety of the leaders' aircraft.
Consider this: Zhang Youxia currently controls the Military Commission, but if he wants to rest easy at night and keep Xi Jinping firmly in that nominal position without allowing him to regain power, how could he permit a general, who was promoted by Xi and once flew over Tiananmen, to maintain control over the air force?
What if one day Xi is cornered and secretly issues an order to Chang Dingqiu through back channels, attempting an aerial coup, or interfering with his aircraft? Wouldn't that put Zhang Youxia's position in jeopardy?
Do not forget the 'September 13 Incident,' which has historically instilled fear in Zhongnanhai. How did Lin Biao, Mao Zedong's close comrade and designated successor, meet his end? He died in a crash of a Trident aircraft in Wulanchabu, Mongolia. While the official account states he defected, rumours have circulated among the public and military that Premier Zhou Enlai ordered the closure of all national airports, with some even suggesting he was shot down by a missile.
Regardless of the actual circumstances, this event left a profound psychological impact on the upper echelons of the Communist Party of China (CPC)—whoever controls the air force wields the power of life and death over the top leaders.
If an anti-Xi faction leader is aboard a plane, and in the control tower on the ground, in front of the radar screen, and next to the missile launch button sits Xi Jinping's loyal confidant, Chang Dingqiu, then that aircraft is not a special plane at all; it is clearly a flying coffin.
At that point, there would be no need for a dramatic coup; all it would take is a little manipulation on the radar, or arranging for two fighter jets to misfire, or even engineering a seemingly natural mechanical failure. Zhang Youxia, no matter how skilled he is, would find it impossible to escape at an altitude of ten thousand meters.
Zhang Youxia is a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, a survivor who has emerged from the dead. He understands better than anyone that while power comes from the barrel of a gun, lives are lost at the push of a missile button.
How could he accept having his life dependent on Xi Jinping's whims? How could he endure every flight becoming a gamble with death?
Thus, Chang Dingqiu must be eliminated! Politically, this is referred to as removing hidden dangers; tactically, it is known as point-strike operations; in the philosophy of self-preservation, it is about dispelling Lin Biao-style fears.
The heart attack of Chang Dingqiu, whether or not it was a real physiological cardiac arrest, has indeed resulted in a political heart that has stopped beating.
His downfall is not about anti-corruption or clarifying toxic influences; rather, it is a precise surgical removal executed by Zhang Youxia against Xi's faction.
With this move, Xi Jinping's most prized military asset, the Air Force, has been struck down, publicly humiliating him and intimidating those who are still sitting on the fence.
What does the 'Moscow Poison Needle Assassination Incident' reflect about Zhongnanhai?
Recently, the 'Moscow Poison Needle Assassination Incident' has been sensationalised online.
The allegations state that Xi Jinping, in an effort to regain military power, bribed Russian agents to poison Zhang Youxia during a state banquet in Moscow. However, Zhang's bodyguards uncovered the plot, prompting Zhang to return to China overnight and launch a frenzied retaliation in Beijing, including the elimination of Chang Dingqiu.
This allegation should be taken as a story rather than a fact. Why? Because it severely contradicts the common sense of geopolitics.
Who is Putin? A cunning old fox with a background in the KGB, shrewd to the core. He is currently relying on the Chinese Communist Party for support in his conflict with Ukraine. Would he allow someone to poison a high-ranking figure from the Chinese military at his own state banquet, right under the nose of the Kremlin? This would not only be a slap in Putin's face but would also insult the professional capabilities of the Federal Security Service of Russia.
If Zhang Youxia truly died in Moscow, Sino-Russian relations would collapse instantly, and the Chinese Communist Party's military would view Russia as a deadly enemy. What would Putin gain from this? Just those two hollow phrases of 'unlimited cooperation' from Xi Jinping? Putin would never engage in such a losing proposition.
However, while the poisoning narrative is fabricated, the widespread circulation of this rumour reflects a real atmosphere of political purges behind it.
This suggests that the conflict between Xi and Zhang has intensified to a life-and-death struggle. This is no longer merely a dispute over ideology; it is a battle for survival.
Domestically, Xi's authority has been undermined, with his loyal aides being arrested one after another. Internationally, this mutual distrust has also become overt. This rumour essentially signals that these two figures have completely broken ties. Xi wants to eliminate 'the one with the bow,' while 'the one with the bow' is methodically dismantling Xi's power base.
Zhang Youxia currently wields both guns and authority; he doesn't need to resort to assassination, which would be too crude. He simply needs to utilise the military discipline inspection commission as a legitimate tool, under the guise of anti-corruption, to systematically incapacitate Xi Jinping, rendering him a puppet who can only read scripts on state television. This is what true political cleansing entails.
The fate of Chang Dingqiu is indeed tragic. This is not just a personal tragedy for him, but also serves as a cautionary tale for all officials still loyal to Xi.
This is the reality of the CCP's political landscape. In this system, no one is safe. Whether you are a technocrat, a political enforcer, or a favoured disciple of the leader, in the face of a power reshuffle, you are merely a pawn.
The downfall of Chang Dingqiao signifies the total collapse of Xi Jinping's control over the military. The so-called 'Xi family army' that is 'capable of fighting and winning' is being completely dismantled.
Zhang Youxia is employing this drastic approach to convey to the entire military: now, consider who to listen to, and make your own judgments.
While winter in Beijing is harsh, the atmosphere inside Zhongnanhai is charged with intense (political) struggle. This grand spectacle is far from over. As the dictator's henchmen are systematically removed, the seemingly formidable structure of centralised power is beginning to creak and show signs of fracture.
What we are currently witnessing is the chaos and frenzy that precedes a significant historical turning point.
Excerpted from 'Jiang Feng's Perspective'
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