Feeding Information to Foreign Media on the Zhang Youxia Case

[People New] In recent days, new developments have emerged regarding the Zhang Youxia case. The Wall Street Journal revealed that Zhang Youxia was intercepted while on his way to attend a meeting at the Central Party School. There are also rumors that Zhang has gone on a hunger strike in protest and is currently being kept alive through intubation. However, contradictory reports claim that Zhang is being detained in the Beijing Garrison Command and that his physical condition is stable.

How Zhang Youxia was arrested remains unclear, with multiple conflicting versions circulating publicly. Among the many rumors, the latest disclosure by The Wall Street Journal has once again drawn attention.

On February 19, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “How Xi Jinping Achieved Absolute Power by Purging the ‘Big Brother,’” detailing Xi’s deployment in the arrest of Zhang Youxia. According to individuals close to CCP decision-making circles, Zhang’s arrest took place on a cold, overcast winter day.

At the time, Zhang was preparing to head to the Central Party School to meet with officials from the school and hundreds of senior cadres, including CCP leader Xi Jinping. However, he never arrived. Security personnel dispatched by Xi intercepted Zhang midway and secretly detained him. Authorities subsequently conducted a thorough search of Zhang’s residence and detained his son.

In fact, the day after Zhang’s official downfall was announced—on January 25—The Wall Street Journal had already published an article titled “China’s Top General Zhang Youxia Accused of Leaking Nuclear Secrets to the U.S.” Citing individuals “familiar with high-level internal briefings,” the report claimed that one key reason for Zhang’s fall was allegedly leaking nuclear secrets to the United States.

This time, The Wall Street Journal again repeated the accusation that Zhang had “leaked core technical data of the CCP’s nuclear weapons program to the United States.”

On January 29, during a routine press conference at China’s Ministry of National Defense, a reporter asked whether the allegation was true. Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin responded that official CCP announcements should be the standard reference and emphasized that “speculation should be avoided.” At the time, outside observers interpreted this as a denial by authorities of the rumor that Zhang fell due to leaking nuclear secrets.

The latest Wall Street Journal report also mentioned other accusations against Zhang, including forming his own political faction, abusing CMC authority, and accepting bribes in exchange for promoting officials.

The “arrest at the Party School” version largely aligns with the January 25 disclosure by independent commentator Cai Shenkun, who said Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were directly detained at the Central Party School on January 19. The operation was reportedly carried out by the Central Guard Bureau under Cai Qi’s supervision.

Both disclosures match the timeline in which Zhang and Liu were absent from the important January 20 opening ceremony of a seminar at the Central Party School.

As for Zhang’s current condition after his arrest, multiple versions have also emerged. Shanghai entrepreneur Hu Liren recently claimed that according to sources in Beijing, Zhang strongly resisted during secret detention and has entered a hunger strike, leading to organ failure. Authorities are allegedly force-feeding him and administering intravenous injections.

However, on the evening of February 22, Cai Shenkun received information from Beijing that sharply contradicted Hu Liren’s claims. According to that version, Zhang remains in Beijing, detained in the garrison district under “dual supervision” by the Garrison Command and the Central Guard Bureau. His safety and health are reportedly not in serious danger, and his family has not been implicated.

With so many versions circulating, how should their credibility be assessed? Although The Wall Street Journal’s reporting is detailed, its accusation of “leaking nuclear secrets to the U.S.” has sparked widespread skepticism.

In early March, the CCP will convene the Two Sessions. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress is scheduled to meet from February 25 to 26. One agenda item at this regular pre–Two Sessions meeting is the “review of reports on the qualifications of certain deputies.” If Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are stripped of their NPC delegate status, and Xi Jinping secures retroactive procedural approval, then internal Party voices questioning the legality of Zhang’s arrest may be silenced.

Observers speculate that The Wall Street Journal’s disclosures may have been deliberate “leaks” orchestrated by Xi’s authorities. The purpose would be to build public opinion momentum before the Two Sessions and to “denounce and thoroughly discredit” Zhang Youxia, thereby paving the way for a closed-door trial.

As for whether Zhang will confess, independent scholar Wu Zuolai conducted a 24-hour poll on the “Manshan Mantan” channel. Among participants, 81% believed Zhang would not confess, while only 11% believed he would.

Why do most people think Zhang will not confess? Wu Zuolai suggests that Zhang may invoke the principle of “democratic centralism” to defend himself, arguing that his actions conformed to Party principles and did not constitute so-called “political crimes.” If he refuses to confess, the case could drag on for a long time, possibly resulting in a secret trial similar to that of Xu Caihou, with information sealed on grounds of national security.

However, Zhang could also choose to confess, though that would likely be seen as part of a “deal.” If his family were detained, he might bow to protect them or secure basic treatment in his later years. For Xi Jinping, regardless of whether Zhang confesses, the final conviction will likely be framed under “corruption,” since political charges such as “splitting the Party center” are difficult to adjudicate publicly in court.