Details of Zhang Youxia's Arrest at the Hongmen Banquet; Chen Min'er Criticises Xi for Being Too Ruthless

Driven by Fear, Xi Flips the Table and Strikes First by Arresting Zhang Youxia

[People News] Following the official announcement from the Chinese Communist Party regarding the investigation of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, the rumours that began circulating on January 20 have now been confirmed. However, various accounts of the circumstances surrounding the arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli have emerged online, with some claiming that over a hundred people were involved in a shootout, and that Zhang Youxia's side was overwhelmed and captured, resembling a scene from a blockbuster film. Other reports suggest that Xi Jinping set a trap at the Hongmen Banquet, taking advantage of Zhang Youxia's unpreparedness to strike. The official reason for Xi Jinping's sudden removal of Zhang Youxia has been publicly attributed to political and corruption issues. Additionally, rumours have surfaced that a month ago, Zhang Youxia had a conflict with Xi Jinping. Strangely, despite the official announcement of the investigation into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, their names still prominently appear on the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China's website. It is said that the Zhang Youxia case has not yet reached a conclusion. With Beijing under martial law and frequent military movements, could there still be a chance for Zhang Youxia to turn the situation around?

Rumour 1 about Zhang and Liu's Arrest: Shootout

Based on various online leaks, the details and insider information regarding the arrest of Zhang Youxia and Chief of the Joint Staff Liu Zhenli are astonishing, involving a real gunfight.

It is reported that the arrest took place on the night of January 19, with both individuals being captured at the Central Party School. Another account claims it occurred on January 16 at the Jingxi Hotel. Why was the action taken at the Party School or Jingxi Hotel? It was because they had left the military base at the Beijing Xishan Command Post, making their protection relatively weak. At that time, it was just before a seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leaders, and most high-ranking officials had already arrived in Beijing.

The arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were executed along two distinct lines, with different teams operating under separate systems. The operation to apprehend Zhang Youxia was personally orchestrated by Cai Qi. A joint operation was conducted by the Central Guard Bureau and the Special Police Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, led by Wang Xiaohong, which resulted in a shootout at the scene, ultimately overpowering Zhang Youxia's security detail. In contrast, Liu Zhenli was captured by a team personally led by Zhang Shengmin, the Secretary of the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission.

Rumour Two: The Hongmen Banquet

According to the latest revelations from Australian independent media figure Jiang Wang on January 26, Xi Jinping hosted a so-called family banquet at the Great Hall of the People, where Zhang Youxia fell into a trap and was arrested during what is referred to as the Hongmen Banquet. Liu Zhenli was also captured under the organisation of Cai Qi.

At 3 PM on January 19, Cai Qi called Liu Zhenli, requesting him to come to the Central Office, claiming there were personnel and military issues to discuss. Upon Liu Zhenli's arrival at the Central Office, his guards were directed to a special guard lounge, their weapons were unloaded, and he was subsequently detained.

After Liu Zhenli and his confidential secretary entered the Central Office, Ling Zhifeng, the head of the Special Police Bureau, entered with dozens of personnel and directly apprehended Liu Zhenli.

At 5 PM, Xi Jinping had arranged to dine with Zhang Youxia. The dining venue was a restaurant located in the outer area of the Great Hall of the People. After Zhang Youxia arrived, the secretary and confidential secretary of his guard were sent to dine at a nearby restaurant. Accompanying them was Xi Jinping's brother, Xi Yuanping. While they were toasting with Zhang Youxia, his guard secretary and confidential secretary had already been taken away. Xi Jinping referred to Zhang Youxia as 'big brother' and stated, 'Having come this far, there are some things I must do.' Zhang Youxia, outnumbered, could only surrender.

Currently, Zhang Youxia has been relocated from Beijing and is no longer in Beidaihe, while Liu Zhenli remains in the capital.

Jiang Wangzheng disclosed that the arrest operations conducted by the Central Guard Bureau and the Special Police Bureau typically follow a 4-to-1 strategy, meaning that for every one person on the opposing side, four are dispatched to handle the situation. It is reported that when Zhang Youxia was apprehended, Li Xi, the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was taken aback; in reality, Li Xi has never truly held authority over the Commission. Liu Jinguo, the Deputy Secretary of the Commission, was preoccupied with other matters and did not take part in the operation.

In the arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, Xi Jinping, fearing leaks, did not convene a Standing Committee meeting beforehand; instead, he, along with Li Qiang and Cai Qi, made the decision to proceed. Therefore, Xi Jinping's arrest of Zhang Youxia not only contravened internal party protocols but also reflected their concern that someone among the seven Standing Committee members might leak information or oppose the action, indicating that the seven members are not entirely cohesive.

It is reported that after Shaanxi Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Yide called Tianjin Municipal Party Secretary Chen Min'er for confirmation, he remarked, 'This is a bit extreme!' Chen Min'er responded, 'The boss is just that extreme!'

Following this, any military district commanders or political commissars serving as local provincial party committee members have been instructed to work solely in the provincial party office and are prohibited from returning to their military district offices. Their security personnel have also been ordered to return to their units, with the provincial party office's guard bureau now responsible for security. As a result, local military committee members may need to be replaced by more than half.

However, all of the above information comes from various sources and remains unverified.

Why did Xi Jinping arrest Zhang Youxia?

So, why did Xi Jinping decide to arrest Zhang Youxia? Over the long term, the 'Xi-Zhang struggle' has been perceived by outsiders as a genuine conflict, with Zhang Youxia being seen as the actual power holder within the military, while Xi Jinping appears to be marginalised.

On January 25, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on social media that approximately a month before Zhang Youxia's arrest, he had confronted and even threatened Xi Jinping in a small gathering, although the veracity of this claim remains unverified. Reports suggest that Zhang Youxia accused Xi Jinping of persistently purging the military over the years, questioning the direction in which he intends to lead the Party and the country. Zhang Youxia expressed that the military's image has been severely tarnished, and soldiers have lost their fundamental dignity, marking an unprecedented self-destruction since the establishment of the Communist Party and the military. Ultimately, during the heated exchange, Zhang Youxia reportedly issued a direct threat: 'If I don't let you leave here today, would that be considered a coup?' 

This dramatic scenario, while difficult to believe, suggests that there is indeed some truth behind it; the long-standing conflict between the two has set the stage for Zhang Youxia's arrest. 

If Zhang Youxia's confrontation with Xi Jinping was the catalyst for his arrest, then the subsequent official announcement by the Communist Party stating that Zhang Youxia was 'suspected of serious disciplinary and legal violations,' along with the five charges including 'seriously trampling and undermining the military commission's responsibility system,' clarifies that the issues surrounding Zhang Youxia are related to politics and corruption. Concurrently, the Wall Street Journal published an article on January 26, citing an insider within the Communist Party who indicated that Zhang Youxia was arrested for allegedly leaking nuclear secrets of the Communist Party to the U.S. military, with the whistleblower being Gu Jun, who had just been apprehended from the nuclear industry group.

Is Zhang Youxia corrupt? It can certainly be said that he is. However, there are doubts regarding the accusation of leaking nuclear secrets. Zhang Youxia possesses the most sensitive and core information of the entire military, including the nuclear counterattack command procedures. Even if he were to leak information, he would not be foolish enough to let Gu Jun know. The act of leaking the Communist Party's nuclear secrets is a treasonous crime that undermines the country's foundation, with the maximum penalty potentially being death. Given that Zhang Youxia is in a position of great power, with numerous opportunities to profit, why would he risk such a serious offence and jeopardise his life and fortune? What could possibly motivate him to do so? This seems illogical and may be a fabricated charge. The Communist Party provides information to overseas media, which is then circulated back to the mainland, as it is rumoured that there are various disturbances within the military expressing dissatisfaction with Zhang Youxia's arrest. Thus, fabricating such a treasonous charge against him at this time naturally invites widespread criticism and collective backlash.

The military and the Party are not united behind Xi Jinping.

As of now, none of the leaders from the five major military regions have publicly taken a stance, and various military branches have not voiced support for Xi Jinping.

Reports suggest that mid-level officers are collectively resisting, with military and department-level officers submitting resignation letters or requesting transfers. The administrative operations within the military are nearly collapsing. Senior generals are remaining silent and uncooperative, 'not speaking or taking a position.'

To prevent a military coup or uprising, the Communist Party has imposed extremely strict controls over the military. There are reports that military officials' mobile phones have been confiscated, and even weapons and ammunition have been seized. Generals are being gathered to study 'Xi Jinping Thought,' as the authorities are deeply concerned about the possibility of a military mutiny.

In addition to the military, major party media surprisingly refrained from publishing any critical articles, and even CCTV's news broadcast did not cover this story. There was also no surge of statements from various central party and government institutions or departments of the State Council endorsing the decisions made by the Party Central Committee. Are all parties still waiting and watching?

Even more strangely, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's website has removed news about Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli being placed under investigation. Zhang Youxia's name and photo still appear on the Politburo member list on the official website of the Central People's Government, but clicking on it does not reveal any related content. A search for Zhang Youxia on the Ministry of Defence's website yields results that include the latest news about the investigation as well as previous positive information regarding Zhang Youxia's official activities.

Is Zhang Youxia's situation still unresolved?

Overseas pro-democracy leader Sheng Xue cited an informed source from within the country, disclosing that the situation concerning Zhang Youxia is not a typical organisational handling or disciplinary investigation, but rather a high-risk internal enforcement action that involved significant unrest and actual armed conflict.

Zhang Youxia has extensive connections and systematic influence within the military. The military is currently under high tension, and Xi Jinping, in an effort to prevent internal chaos and rebellion, has already arrested over 5,000 individuals in the Beijing area. Xi Jinping is aware that he is in a precarious situation and has been unaccounted for thus far.

Reports also suggest that Xi Jinping has never truly managed to assert control over the military. His authority primarily relies on purges and instilling fear, rather than on respect. There are discussions in private military circles regarding Xi Jinping's lack of military experience and capabilities. The current situation is marked by an outbreak of forced control amid high mutual distrust, resembling the characteristics of extreme personal rulers in the later stages of their reigns throughout history.

In addition to Xi Jinping, the military discipline committee secretary Zhang Shengmin is also extremely fearful. Reports suggest that Zhang has a poor reputation and lacks respect from others. During Xi Jinping's efforts to strengthen his personal control over the military, Zhang's role has been crucial; he is tasked with ensuring the military's loyalty to the supreme leader. The downfall, investigation, and marginalisation of numerous high-ranking generals are closely tied to the military committee's discipline inspection system. From an institutional perspective, Zhang appears to be a spy placed in the military by Xi Jinping. Furthermore, the military committee currently consists only of him and Xi Jinping, leading to speculation that Xi may abolish the military committee system altogether.

Moreover, sources familiar with the situation have indicated that, given the current high tension and mutual distrust within the military, initiating a war against Taiwan is now practically unfeasible. Xi Jinping's primary focus at this time is to 'stabilise the internal situation' rather than engage in external adventures.

The latest information obtained by overseas pro-democracy activist Tang Boqiao reveals a surprising twist. Reports suggest that the case involving Zhang Youxia has not yet been resolved. Both parties are currently debating the legality of his arrest. Zhang Youxia's family and some of his subordinates have publicly voiced their dissatisfaction and are demanding corrections. Authorities have ceased further actions. For the first time, Xi's absolute authority is facing a challenge, and the likelihood of a misfire is increasing.

Tang Boqiao believes that Zhang Youxia is different from previous military leaders who have been ousted. His father, Zhang Zongxun, was a founding general of the Communist Party of China and fought alongside Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxun. Zhang Youxia himself has been through the trials of war and is unlikely to back down easily. Even if he has been arrested, the situation is far from over. Tang Boqiao boldly predicts that Zhang is well aware of Xi's strategies and likely anticipated this situation, preparing a counterattack plan. Anyone who challenges the status quo now has a high chance of success.

The conflict between Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping, regarding who will emerge victorious, may not have reached its final outcome yet. Is there a chance for Zhang Youxia to make a comeback? We will keep an eye on the developments.

(First published by People News)
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