Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, remarked that Xi's faction has been entirely apprehended. (Video screenshot)
[People News] In January of this year, Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, unexpectedly arrested Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, also Vice Chairman of the Military Commission. More than three months have passed, yet Zhang still retains all his positions, which highlights significant internal disagreements on how to handle this case at the highest levels. Analysts suggest that this situation indicates that Xi's attempt to arrest Zhang Youxia may be 'unjustified and uncoordinated', facing considerable resistance in removing Zhang and Liu from their posts, as Zhang possesses too many secrets about Xi and is refusing to cooperate.
On January 24, Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee 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, were placed under investigation.
On January 25, the Chinese military newspaper accused Zhang and Liu of 'five serious' crimes, including 'seriously violating and undermining the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission'. Notably, unlike previous cases of fallen officials, the official announcement and political characterisation this time were made swiftly, which is quite unusual.
However, it has now been over three months since Zhang Youxia's arrest, and the authorities have yet to take any action against Zhang and Liu. In particular, from February 4 to April 27, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress held three meetings, none of which publicly addressed the issue of revoking or suspending the national representative qualifications of Zhang and Liu, leading to speculation from the outside world.
Some analysts suggest that the current situation may be linked to Zhang Youxia's unique position. Zhang Youxia serves not only as the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission but is also a current member of the Politburo and one of the most senior and highest-ranking active generals in the Chinese military. He is among the few high-ranking officers in the People's Liberation Army who have actual combat experience. This background has allowed him to remain in his position through the leadership transitions of the Military Commission during both the 19th and 20th National Congresses of the Communist Party of China. In 2022, he even broke the age norm to continue as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Military Commission. Furthermore, it is widely believed that Zhang Youxia is one of Xi Jinping's most trusted political allies within the military.
Regarding the fallout between Xi and Zhang, an official report has indicated that Zhang Youxia is suspected of 'seriously violating the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission,' which points to an irreconcilable conflict between Xi and Zhang in terms of decision-making and command. Online rumours suggest that Zhang confronted Xi Jinping directly over management or policy issues within the military, and his strong influence in the military (with loyal troops) has made Xi feel that his authority is under threat.
On April 29, Wang Youqun, a former official of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, published an analysis in The Epoch Times, outlining three reasons why the positions of Zhang and Liu remain unchanged: First, Xi's sudden arrest of Zhang and Liu may represent a quasi-military coup orchestrated by Xi with a select few; second, as core members of the Central Military Commission, Zhang and Liu are privy to many of Xi's secrets, and after their removal, they may refuse to cooperate; third, Xi is encountering significant resistance in swiftly addressing the issues surrounding Zhang and Liu.
Wang Youqun argues that this situation does not represent a standard procedure for investigating high-ranking officials in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the provincial level and above; instead, it resembles a sudden, quasi-military coup that bypasses normal protocols. The decision, deemed a 'major decision', may lack legitimacy, and its implementation could also be deemed improper and inconsistent.
The author notes that Xi Jinping's abrupt actions against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli have likely met with resistance, as both Zhang and Liu are expected to be unwilling to accept their fates and may refuse to cooperate, complicating Xi's position. For Xi, it is crucial to resolve the situations involving Zhang and Liu swiftly to assert his authority as 'the one in charge.' However, his inaction thus far suggests that he is facing considerable resistance, particularly from the military.
Previously, several sources close to the military revealed to The Epoch Times that after the investigations into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were announced, various directives from the Central Military Commission to the military faced widespread pushback at the grassroots level. Currently, the channels for disseminating high-level military orders have effectively collapsed, with no responses forthcoming. Discontent and resistance towards the Military Commission are spreading throughout the ranks.
Wang Youqun highlights in his article that, in addition to creating an atmosphere of insecurity within the military, Xi has alienated numerous individuals since the start of his second term, including CCP elders, the 'red second generation,' the Youth League faction, and the reform and opening-up faction. The question of how to manage Zhang and Liu has become a significant concern for Xi. If he continues down this path of endless turmoil, it may ultimately prove futile or even backfire on him.
According to CCP conventions, when officials enter disciplinary review, the process to revoke their qualifications as representatives in the National People's Congress is typically initiated simultaneously. However, the current situation indicates that the Zhang Youxia case is facing resistance at the mid-level of the military, which is likely to affect the pace of final decisions at the higher levels.
Recently, sources close to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) informed The Epoch Times that the matter of Zhang Youxia not being removed from his position as a representative of the National People's Congress (NPC) has ignited discussions within relevant circles. Feedback indicates that historically, when similar high-ranking military officials had their NPC representative qualifications revoked, it typically occurred only after they were either transferred to military prosecution authorities or expelled from the Party and military, followed by an external announcement regarding the termination of their NPC status.
Qin Song (pseudonym), an observer familiar with military interpersonal dynamics, disclosed that the cases of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are unlikely to be prolonged. He remarked, "While there are differing views within the Standing Committee concerning the Zhang Youxia case, everyone is in the same boat. If this situation continues to drag on, it will have a very negative impact externally. I have heard that Xi Jinping's camp wishes to resolve this issue 'as quickly as possible.' However, there are already varying opinions at the major general level, while matters at the general and lieutenant general levels have mostly been resolved."
The anti-corruption campaign initiated by Xi Jinping upon his ascension to power claims to target both 'tigers' and 'flies.' According to data released by the CCP around the time of the 20th National Congress, during Xi's first decade in power (2012-2022), approximately 200,000 individuals at various levels of 'first leaders' (the main responsible persons at local or departmental levels) were investigated. Additionally, by early 2026, observers noted that the total number of officials disciplined or investigated during Xi Jinping's 13 years in power had reached between 5 million and 7 million.
Beginning in 2023, Xi Jinping has launched a significant purge in the military, focusing on senior generals accused of 'disloyalty.' This campaign started mainly within the Rocket Force and has gradually extended to the equipment sector. Almost the entire senior leadership of the military, from the Minister of Defence to the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, has experienced a thorough and systematic cleansing, leading to a near-total dismantling of the general officer rank system within the Chinese Communist Party's armed forces. △
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