Pictured: File photo of Zhang Youxia (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
[People News] On January 24, the Ministry of National Defense of the Communist Party of China announced that Zhang Youxia, a member of the Central Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department, are under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law." This confirmation follows rumours that began circulating on January 20 regarding their arrest. Reports suggest that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli attempted to orchestrate a coup under the pretext of "saving the party and saving the country," but were betrayed by someone close to them, resulting in the coup's failure.
Du Wen, the Executive Director of the Legal Advisory Office of the former Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region government, disclosed that according to insider information, Zhang Youxia, in collaboration with Chief of General Staff Liu Zhenli, planned to mobilise troops to stage a coup against Xi Jinping under the guise of saving the party and the country. Unfortunately, they were betrayed by someone in their inner circle, reportedly the Deputy Chief of General Staff.
Current reports indicate that the existing command structure of the General Staff has been suspended, with direct command now being issued by the Central Military Commission via encrypted telegrams. All military units are on high alert, and all military movements have been immediately frozen and halted. Officers and soldiers have had their mobile phones confiscated for centralised political education.
Du Wen remarked that this will be the most severe and comprehensive purge in the history of the Communist Party of China and the broader international communist movement. It also represents a direct indication of the structural collapse occurring within the Chinese Communist military. The scale of Xi Jinping's purges has surpassed those of Stalin and Mao Zedong.
Wang Hao, the host of Huashi's Three Kingdoms Forum, commented on X, stating: 'Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli have been placed under investigation, marking a solidification of further purges within the military. This is not an anti-corruption effort, but rather a preemptive strike against potential disloyalty. Xi Jinping has lost trust in the command system and has opted to take the initiative. The outcome will only create a chilling effect within the military, where professionalism is sacrificed for loyalty, and internal unrest may not necessarily subside; instead, it could escalate into external aggression, raising regional risks.'
Additionally, some commentators argue that this purge, which prioritises 'loyalty over professionalism,' while it may consolidate power in the short term, has effectively dismantled the internal trust structure and professional command chain of the military. The concern is: when commanders lose their decision-making autonomy due to fear, will this unbalanced system lead to a strategic contraction for safety, or will it evolve into a more aggressive external advance to demonstrate loyalty? This presents a significant challenge for predicting regional security.
Du Wen forecasts that a counteroffensive from Zhang Youxia's former subordinates could occur at any moment. He strongly advises friends in Beijing to limit their outings, particularly to avoid recklessly heading to the front lines of Chang'an Street. A large-scale military mutiny could happen at any time, and the Chinese Communist Party could face a change at any moment! Xi Jinping could be eliminated at any time!
Rumours regarding Zhang Youxia's arrest began circulating on January 20. The incident stemmed from Zhang Youxia's absence from the opening ceremony of a 'special seminar' concerning the 20th Central Committee's Fourth Plenary Session, which was held in Beijing for provincial and ministerial-level officials. Following this, various rumours about 'Zhang Youxia being arrested' began to proliferate.
Jiang Wangzheng, an Australian independent media figure known for frequently revealing the inner workings of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), announced during a live broadcast late on January 20 that he had learned earlier that day about Zhang Youxia being summoned for questioning, along with news regarding the investigation of Zhang Youxia's son and his confidential secretary.
On January 22, independent commentator Cai Shenkun reported that sources in Beijing disclosed that the Ministry of Public Security's Special Operations Bureau, the Central Guard Bureau, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had jointly conducted an arrest operation, resulting in the capture of 17 senior generals, including General Liu Zhenli, General Xiao Tianliang, and Lieutenant General Zhong Shaojun. Additionally, all of Zhang Youxia's family members have been taken into custody.
The reports also suggested that a significant number of lieutenant generals, major generals, and even division-level officers are expected to be arrested in the near future. High-ranking officials within the CCP have already disseminated this information, with notifications sent to provincial and ministerial officials on the afternoon of the 21st, and to deputy provincial officials on the 22nd. Cai Shenkun affirmed that the information is completely accurate.
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