Xi Jinping to Heavily Sentence Zhang Youxia? Rumor Says the Most Courageous General Steps In to Rescue

Zhang Youxia. (Illustration by Qing Yu for People News)

[People News] In recent days, Beijing’s political circles have experienced the most intense and dangerous personnel earthquake since the Cultural Revolution. Zhang Youxia — long regarded as Xi Jinping’s trusted confidant in the military and the second-ranking figure in real power within the Central Military Commission — has reportedly been arrested and placed under investigation. This is not merely the fall of a high-ranking official, but the collapse of the entire CCP military power structure, pushing the Chinese military command system into an unprecedented state of “brain death.” Will China fall into turmoil as a result?

he “Hongmen Banquet” at the Bayi Building

All turning points occurred at the headquarters of the Central Military Commission on Fuxing Road in Beijing — the Bayi Building. According to insiders who spoke to The Epoch Times, Zhang Youxia’s arrest was a carefully arranged, long-planned operation.

On the day of the incident, an internal meeting was scheduled at the Bayi Building. However, Zhang Youxia did not know that the security network around him had already been quietly replaced months earlier. According to details provided to the media by insiders, to ensure the operation was foolproof, authorities adjusted Zhang Youxia’s security personnel in advance. When Zhang arrived at the entrance of the meeting venue, guards suddenly demanded that his personal security detail remain outside and not enter the meeting hall — even though those guards were armed at the time.

After entering the building, Zhang himself was unarmed. During the process of taking him away, the atmosphere became extremely tense. Zhang’s security personnel even had brief physical contact with the arresting officers on site. Ultimately, however, the surrounded Zhang did not resist and was swiftly taken away, disappearing from public view.

At present, the official characterization of Zhang Youxia and another CMC member, Liu Zhenli, is extremely serious. Internal documents accuse them of “deviating from the Central authorities and engaging in separatist activities,” while military media publicly defined their actions as “seriously undermining the CMC Chairman responsibility system.” This is completely different from previous generals who fell purely due to “corruption.”

On January 26, the PLA Daily ran a front-page article titled “Always Sound the ‘Charge’ Bugle,” directly targeting Zhang Youxia. The article compared Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli to CCP “old revolutionaries” Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan, who were publicly tried and severely punished for corruption, and quoted Mao’s words from that era: “Status grants no immunity, and merit is not a voucher against punishment,” implying Xi Jinping’s firm resolve to heavily sentence Zhang Youxia. The article concluded by declaring, “A small number of corrupt elements cannot stir up any great waves.” But can they really not stir up waves?

Collapse of the Military Command System

Zhang Youxia’s downfall triggered a chain reaction, plunging the CCP military command system into an unprecedented state of “brain death.” The complete collapse of the CMC system already threatens the very foundation of the CCP party-state. Calling it “waves” would be an understatement — it is more like a tsunami.

Consider these startling figures: the Central Military Commission currently has seven members. Among them, five — including Zhang Youxia, He Weidong, Miao Hua, Liu Zhenli, and Zhang Shengmin — have reportedly encountered trouble or been taken away. This means that among the CMC leadership, nearly all commanders with professional military backgrounds and real combat experience have effectively been “wiped out.”

Of the remaining two, Xi Jinping is not a professional soldier, while Zhang Shengmin is a cadre responsible for political work and disciplinary enforcement.

A source close to the military analyzed that this cleanup is not limited to top leaders. Because Zhang Youxia served in the military for a very long time, his protégés and former subordinates are spread throughout the armed forces. This round of arrests will affect an entire “personnel chain.” Officers at the battalion level and above may face removal or political review, plunging the entire military into enormous panic. Officers and soldiers are uneasy, and no one knows who will be next.

Echoing the turbulence inside Zhongnanhai is the suffocating tension on the streets of Beijing. According to multiple residents’ observations, from Beijing Railway Station along Chang’an Avenue to Xidan, police are everywhere. Police dogs patrol inside subway stations, and officers randomly check pedestrians’ IDs. Some residents describe the city center as having “a post every three steps and a sentry every five,” with noticeably reduced traffic and foot flow compared to usual.

Even more disturbing reports say that on certain roads leading from Beijing toward Changping, armed soldiers have set up checkpoints. The sight of “guns appearing on the streets” has made many Beijing residents realize that the political situation may have reached a critical point of losing control.

The Ultimate Showdown Between Xi and Zhang

Why has Zhang Youxia’s fall caused such enormous upheaval? Because this is not an ordinary personnel reshuffle, but a total rupture between Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia, once close allies. Their former “brotherhood” has now evolved into a life-and-death struggle.

Overseas Chinese democracy activist Tang Baiqiao revealed information from Beijing, saying that Xi and Zhang have been openly and covertly fighting for three years. Many people dissatisfied with Xi could only express their views through Zhang Youxia, because Zhang was the only one who dared to speak to Xi face-to-face and point directly at him while talking.

Tang Baiqiao said Zhang Youxia does not want to be General Secretary; their struggle stems from differing values.

First, Zhang initially supported Xi’s 2018 constitutional amendment to become a “lifetime emperor,” but later turned against it, believing Xi should not stay in power indefinitely.

Second, Zhang firmly wanted to prevent Xi from attacking Taiwan, while Xi was eager to do so. This was one line of dispute, though not the key one. Zhang advocated stabilizing the situation and avoiding conflict amid economic downturn and diplomatic isolation. This stance was viewed by Xi as “shaking military morale,” becoming a trigger for the subsequent purge of military generals.

Independent commentator Cai Shenkun also recently revealed that about a month before Zhang was arrested, he and Xi had a fierce argument. Zhang harshly accused Xi of harming the Party-state with his actions and even shouted: “If I don’t let you leave here today, would that count as a coup?”

Perhaps it was this quarrel that made Xi finally resolve to bring Zhang down. But Zhang is a senior “red princeling.” If he is touched, can the other red families avoid feeling endangered?

Tang Baiqiao analyzed that one key to the Xi–Zhang struggle is which side the “red families” choose. The ten major red families that still hold influence — including those of Deng Xiaoping, Ye Jianying, Zeng Qinghong, and even Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao — are all watching this duel.

On January 27, Tang Baiqiao again revealed on X that another princeling general has spoken out against arresting Zhang Youxia, arguing it violates the rules of the red second generation. Whether this person can shoulder major responsibility depends on his performance in the coming days. Although Tang is not very optimistic, he says this is currently the most courageous general.△