Naively unguarded, Zhang Youxia falls into the 'Hongmen Banquet'

Pictured: File photo of Zhang Youxia (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] At the start of 2026, the unexpected downfall of Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, sent shockwaves both domestically and internationally. Reports suggest that Party leader Xi Jinping and Standing Committee member Cai Qi personally orchestrated the capture of Zhang Youxia, who wielded considerable military power.

According to information disclosed by Australian-based independent media figure Jiang Wangzheng on the 26th, on the afternoon of January 19, Cai Qi summoned Liu Zhenli to the Central Secretariat via phone to discuss 'personnel and military issues.' Upon Liu Zhenli's arrival with his bodyguards and secretary, the bodyguards were placed in a lounge, while the secretary was left on a sofa outside the office, where he was swiftly apprehended by the Special Security Bureau. Liu was then subjected to 'detention' under the pretext of the Secretariat. After confirming Liu Zhenli's arrest, Xi Jinping invited Zhang Youxia to a family dinner at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing that evening, claiming that they could 'catch up' and discuss personnel matters. Trusting the other party, Zhang Youxia let down his guard and fell into the 'Hongmen Banquet' trap.

Naturally, various alternative narratives have emerged online. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed that Zhang Youxia was apprehended by the Central Security Bureau at the Central Party School on January 19. Other reports suggest that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were suspected of 'initiating a military coup to capture Xi Jinping' and were preemptively dealt with after being reported by their subordinates. Democracy activist Sheng Xue noted that the two sides had a shootout at the Jingxi Hotel, resulting in casualties on both sides, but there was no corroborating evidence of 'gunfire in Beijing,' making it difficult to ascertain the truth.

Following Zhang Youxia's downfall, the Ministry of National Defence of the Communist Party of China officially announced on January 24 that two individuals are under investigation for 'serious violations of discipline and law.' An editorial in the military newspaper criticised them for 'seriously undermining the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission,' which threatens the Party's foundational authority. Analysts have noted that this incident reveals the public nature of internal divisions within the Communist Party, the interference of non-military forces in military affairs, and a breach of the Party's internal regulations, potentially leading to increased tensions and greater instability within the military.

Political commentator Wang He stated that Zhang Youxia and others had attempted to rise against Xi Jinping, but their intention was to 'protect the Party,' which is why they did not openly confront him. This led to them being preemptively dealt with by Xi before they could mount any rebellion. This incident highlights the total failure of the 'anti-Xi, protect the Party' strategy, as Xi Jinping himself embodies the protection of the Party. Any future social activities in China cannot coexist with the Communist Party, and any efforts to safeguard the Party are doomed to fail and will ultimately be consumed by the Party's own machinery.

Furthermore, some analyses suggest that Zhang Youxia's military coup aimed to 'oppose Xi and protect the Party,' a mission that is destined to fail. Under the celestial signs indicating the downfall of the Communist Party, any attempts to preserve the Party are fated to fail.

A reader on the People's Daily website remarked: 'The end of the Communist Party is near, and all efforts to save this corrupt Party will not succeed. If Zhang Youxia's coup was initiated to stop Xi from reversing progress and to extend the Communist Party's violent rule, this goes against the will of heaven and the sentiments of the people, making failure unavoidable.'

Analysts indicate that the downfall of Zhang Youxia signifies the beginning of the weakening of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, heralding the onset of its systematic collapse. Xi Jinping's actions have 'opened Pandora's box,' triggering the mechanism for the self-destruction of the Red regime. He has been humorously referred to as the 'Chief Accelerator of the CCP's Demise,' and this time he has pressed the accelerator, propelling the CCP further down the path of self-destruction as it races towards its own end.

A special report from the Global Centre for Quitting the CCP, titled 'By 2026, the CCP is in a State of Collapse, Seize the Last Opportunity to Withdraw from the CCP,' states: 'The era of the late CCP has arrived; 2026 will be the year of reckoning for totalitarianism. The CCP is entering a phase of structural decline and complete disorder, marking the 'late CCP' period. The year 2026 will be a historical moment when the CCP's egregious crimes are fully exposed. A wise person does not stand under a crumbling wall; now is the time to seize the last opportunity to withdraw from the CCP, as taking a step back can lead to a broader horizon.

At this critical moment, whether they are officials at the Central Committee level or ordinary party members in rural areas, including those who are not party members but have previously joined the Communist Youth League and Young Pioneers, the Chinese populace should take the opportunity to withdraw from the CCP's party organisations to avoid becoming collateral damage when the CCP is discarded by history.

Wang Zhiyuan, chairman of the Global Centre for Quitting the CCP, stated: 'If one insists on preserving the party and follows the CCP blindly, they will become its accomplice at the time of its downfall, eliminated by history. 'Awaken now, withdraw from the CCP's party organisations, and renounce evil to escape danger; choose justice and light, and secure a safe future for yourself.' △