Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, remarked that Xi&9;s faction has been entirely apprehended. (Video screenshot)
[People News] On February 19, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “How Xi Jinping Gained Absolute Power by Purging His ‘Big Brother,” which provided a detailed account of how Xi orchestrated the arrest of Zhang Youxia, a member of the CCP Politburo and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Citing sources “close to the CCP’s top decision-making circle,” the report said that on a “cold, gloomy winter day” — January 20 — Zhang Youxia was on his way to the Central Party School to attend a meeting with hundreds of senior officials, including Xi Jinping. On the way, however, security personnel dispatched by Xi intercepted Zhang, detained him at a secret location, searched his residence, and took his son into custody, who worked as a military researcher.
The day after Zhang’s downfall was officially announced, on January 25, The Wall Street Journal published another article titled “China’s Top General Accused of Leaking Nuclear Secrets to the United States.” Quoting sources within the CCP who were “familiar with high-level briefing meetings,” the report said that one of the key reasons for Zhang Youxia’s purge was that he had leaked nuclear secrets to the United States.
Judging from these reports, it appears that certain high-level CCP insiders deliberately used The Wall Street Journal as a channel to leak information abroad about how Zhang Youxia was arrested.
After The Wall Street Journal published its first report on Zhang’s arrest, it triggered widespread scepticism. After the second report appeared, the outside world still could not verify its authenticity.
Here, I do not intend to examine whether The Wall Street Journal’s reporting is true or false. Rather, based on the confusing and contradictory reports from inside and outside China following Zhang Youxia’s arrest, I want to discuss the typical pattern the CCP uses when arresting someone like Zhang Youxia.
Anyone familiar with the history of internal CCP power struggles knows that whether it is Zhang Youxia or other high-ranking officials who lose in these factional battles, their downfall generally follows the same “three-step script”:
The first act is "False".
There are at least six or seven different accounts regarding Zhang Youxia's arrest: some claim he was apprehended in the August 1st Building, others say it happened at the Jingxi Hotel, while some assert he was taken at the Central Party School. There are also reports that he was arrested on his way to a meeting at the Central Party School, at his residence in Xishan, or even during a "Hongmen Banquet" orchestrated by Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.
Today, I encountered an article by someone who claims to be a "pro-American individual from the decision-making level of the CCP government." The author describes himself as a "mid-level decision-maker who used to swipe his face to enter and exit through the west gate of Zhongnanhai and could wait for the elevator in the corridor outside the Politburo meeting room," and he aims to narrate "the entire process of Zhang Youxia's downfall, word for word, from beginning to end."
These various accounts of the revelations are described in vivid detail, almost as if they are firsthand experiences. However, none of these claims can currently be substantiated.
Why is that? Because Zhang Youxia's arrest is entirely the result of a "black box operation" by Xi Jinping's administration, the truth is now completely obscured.
In the over three years since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), 18 CPC generals have been officially reported to have fallen from grace. Aside from Zhang Youxia, how did the other 17 generals get caught? Has the CPC made this information public? No. All these generals were initially reported as 'missing', and then, at some point, a spokesperson from the Ministry of National Defence announced that they were under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law.
In a normal rule-of-law country, whether officials or civilians are arrested, it must be done according to the law. Those making the arrests cannot act arbitrarily, and there are various forms of oversight over the arresting authorities; those who are arrested are not merely 'the meat on the chopping block', and their human rights must be protected at the most basic level. Both the public and the arrested individuals have the right to be informed and to supervise the arrest process.
In China, the CPC also claims to govern the country according to the law and has even established a 'Central Comprehensive Law-based Governance Committee'; the CPC also asserts that it 'respects and protects human rights'. However, how did the CPC handle the legal proceedings against the aforementioned 18 generals after their arrests? This includes details such as when they were criminally detained, when they were arrested, when they were prosecuted in court, when their trials occurred, when verdicts were announced, what crimes they were charged with, how many years they were sentenced to, whether they had defense lawyers, and whether they were subjected to torture or coercion during interrogation, among other things. The outside world knows almost nothing about these proceedings. The CPC may choose to selectively disclose some information that it wants you to know; what it does not want you to know remains hidden in a black box.
The second point is 'evil'.
On January 24, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of the CPC announced that Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC 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'.
Given that Zhang (Zhang) and Liu (Liu) are 'suspected of serious violations of discipline and law and have been placed under investigation,' this is their issue, and they remain in the 'suspect stage' without any confirmed evidence. Since the 'investigation' has only just begun, it will take some time before a conclusion can be reached.
The criminal law of the Chinese Communist Party establishes the 'presumption of innocence,' which asserts that any individual should be presumed innocent until a court proves their guilt with conclusive facts and sufficient evidence.
The presumption of innocence logically starts from the assumption that the suspect or defendant is innocent. The principle's value orientation is to treat the suspect or defendant as a party in criminal proceedings, allowing them to enjoy corresponding litigation rights to protect them from unwarranted criminal prosecution. Its core spirit is to safeguard the legitimate rights of suspects and defendants.
However, on January 25, just one day after Zhang and Liu were officially announced to be under 'investigation,' the People's Liberation Army Daily published an editorial that effectively 'convicted' them of their 'crimes.' The editorial stated: 'Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, as senior officials of the Party and the military, have severely betrayed the trust of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, grossly violated and undermined the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission, and significantly contributed to political and corruption issues that threaten the Party's absolute leadership over the military. Their actions have severely impacted the image and authority of the Military Commission and have undermined the political ideological foundation of unity and progress among all military personnel, causing substantial damage to the military's political construction, political ecology, and combat effectiveness, and resulting in extremely adverse effects on the Party, the country, and the military.'
On January 24, the authorities announced the 'case filing and investigation' of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Remarkably, by January 25, the conclusion of this investigation was already released. Isn't this an unusually rapid process?
As of today, February 22, nearly a month has passed since Zhang and Liu were officially placed under 'case filing and investigation', yet the Communist Party of China has not provided any evidence regarding the so-called 'five serious' charges against them. Where did these charges originate? Is it a case of presuming guilt first and then seeking 'evidence' to substantiate that guilt?
Does the principle of 'presumption of innocence' as outlined in criminal law not apply to Zhang and Liu?
Do Zhang and Liu have legitimate avenues to defend themselves? Currently, aside from the 'public opinion trial' conducted by the military newspaper of the Communist Party, is there any opportunity to express dissenting or opposing views? If there isn't, how credible is this one-sided narrative?
The day after Zhang and Liu were subjected to 'case filing and investigation', the authorities used an editorial in the military newspaper to effectively conduct a 'public opinion conviction', metaphorically 'killing' Zhang and Liu with a single blow. Meanwhile, Zhang and Liu have been stripped of all legal rights to clarify the facts surrounding their situation. This approach is deeply concerning.
Such actions represent a serious violation of the explicit provisions laid out in the Constitution, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Party Constitution, and the Regulations on the Protection of Party Members' Rights that the Communist Party itself has established.
Zhang Youxia is a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party and the first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, holding a high-ranking position equivalent to that of a vice-national leader. Liu Zhenli is a member of the Central Military Commission and the chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department, a quasi-vice-national level official. Both Zhang and Liu are generals who have served on the battlefield, earned military honours, and have risen through the ranks from grassroots positions.
The Xi administration can openly disregard the explicit provisions of laws and regulations concerning Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, convicting them without a trial. Meanwhile, the hundreds of millions of ordinary Chinese citizens find themselves like 'fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of the butcher,' subjected to the whims of the authorities.
The third point is 'struggle.'
On January 24, 2026, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were officially announced to have been ousted, representing a concentrated reflection of the escalating internal conflicts within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in modern times.
Since its founding in 1921, the CCP has been embroiled in continuous internal strife guided by Marx's 'philosophy of struggle.' After the CCP took power on the Chinese mainland in 1949, its leader, Mao Zedong, was almost perpetually engaged in internal conflicts, leading to chaos and life-and-death struggles. This internal strife continued during the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao.
When Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, the internal conflicts within the CCP became increasingly sharp, intense, and dangerous, with a growing frequency.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the CCP, and with Xi's backing, his 'most trusted military confidant'—CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, along with Xi's 'second trusted military confidant'—Central Military Commission member and Director of the Political Work Department Miao Hua, engaged in a power struggle with CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia. Subsequently, after Zhang Youxia secured serious evidence of corruption against He and Miao, he compelled Xi to order their removal. Following this, Xi employed secretive methods to take down Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
Reports from overseas have long indicated that former CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong, has committed suicide, and former Director of the Political Work Department He Hongjun has also taken his own life. There are now also questions regarding whether CCP Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia is still alive.
As of today, only two members remain in the power struggle among the seven members of the 20th Central Military Commission established by Xi Jinping—Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin. The other five have all been labelled as 'seriously corrupt elements'.
Among the dozens of active generals promoted by Xi, only four are still in contention—Zhang Shengmin, Dong Jun, Han Shengyan, and Yang Zhibin. Dong Jun, who was recommended by Miao Hua for the position of Minister of National Defence, has likely not been promoted to a member of the Central Military Commission or State Council due to his connections to the Miao Hua case. Han and Yang were only promoted from lieutenant generals to generals on December 22 of last year.
Xi's abrupt dismissal of Zhang and Liu has intensified the internal conflicts within the Chinese Communist Party's military to an unprecedented level. If this infighting continues, Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin may be removed; if it escalates further, Xi himself may struggle to maintain his position.
Throughout the history of internal strife within the Chinese Communist Party, it resembles a meat grinder—today I grind you, tomorrow you grind me; no one is truly safe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Chinese Communist Party's approach to capturing Zhang Youxia can be summarised as 'falsehood, evil, and struggle'. So, where does this 'falsehood, evil, and struggle' originate from?
The answer lies in Marxism-Leninism.
Marxism-Leninism consists of three key elements: first, atheism; second, the philosophy of struggle; and third, the evolution of 'survival of the fittest' from evolutionary theory into the principle of 'any means necessary to achieve the goal'. A lack of belief in God leads to a fearlessness of both heaven and earth, allowing for the commission of any outrageous acts. The philosophy of struggle promotes the idea that 'fighting against heaven is endlessly enjoyable; fighting against the earth is endlessly enjoyable; fighting against people is endlessly enjoyable'. The principle of 'any means necessary to achieve the goal' implies the absence of moral or legal boundaries, engaging in 'unrestricted warfare' and lawlessness.
Throughout history, both in the East and the West, all genuine beliefs and ancient sages have held that humanity's origin lies with God, who created both man and the universe. Marxism-Leninism advocates atheism, cutting off the connection between humanity and the divine, which fundamentally undermines human existence.
The three core tenets of Marxism-Leninism can be encapsulated in three words: 'falsehood, evil, struggle.'
Reflecting on the century-long history of infighting within the Chinese Communist Party, can you identify a single instance of life-and-death conflict that did not adhere to the principles of 'falsehood, evil, struggle'?
-- The Dajiyuan
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