Sources Indicate That Zhang Youxia's Case is Nearing Its Conclusion, With Results Expected to Be Announced in July.

According to reports from state media, during his visit to the Joint Operations Command Centre on November 8, 2022, Xi Jinping was flanked by He Weidong, Liu Zhenli, Xi Jinping, Zhang Shengmin, Li Shangfu, Zhang Youxia, and Miao Hua from left to right. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, has been under investigation for over three months. Several sources familiar with the Communist Party system have revealed that the internal investigation related to his case has entered its final stages and is expected to be completed within two months at the earliest. If there are no new developments, the results are likely to be made public in July.

The case is approaching its final stages.

As per the usual practices of the Communist Party of China, once an official is under disciplinary review, the process to revoke their qualifications as a representative of the National People's Congress (NPC) is typically initiated at the same time. However, as of now, Zhang Youxia's military position, rank, and NPC representative qualifications have not been revoked on the official Communist Party website. Current indications suggest that there is resistance within the military regarding the handling of Zhang Youxia's case, which is affecting the pace of final decisions at higher levels.

Recently, The Epoch Times spoke with an insider familiar with the details of Zhang Youxia's case. The insider stated, "After more than three months of investigation by the military, the case of Zhang Youxia has entered its final stages, with the internal investigation primarily focused on 'detail handling.' If there are no new developments, this case could be concluded within two months, and barring any unexpected circumstances, the results will be announced in July, including the expulsion of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Party and military."

The anonymous insider noted that the handling of the case will follow established procedures, with the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announcing the expulsion of both individuals from their Party and military positions, after which the case will be referred to the military procuratorate for prosecution. However, even if it moves into the prosecution stage, the trial will be conducted by a military court, and there will be limited opportunities for public disclosure of the case details.

The informant stated, "Cases of this nature are typically not tried in public. The previous vice chairmen of the Military Commission during Hu Jintao's administration were all tried behind closed doors, and the only information available to the public is the final verdict. Military trials never disclose the specific details of the cases."

The direction of the accusations has been established to avoid power struggles.

Another source close to the military informed The Epoch Times that the authorities have currently defined the legal basis for the accusations against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. These accusations primarily involve the misuse of power for accepting bribes, engaging in power transactions during the appointment of officials, and securing benefits for family members and specific associates.

He remarked, "The direction of the accusations has been determined; the current focus is on how to communicate this to the public. The monetary amounts involved are not the main issue; the key concern is how to manage the narrative and prevent it from being interpreted as a power struggle. Chinese criminal law does not recognise a specific 'anti-party crime'; thus, the charges will likely fall under bribery and similar offences, necessitating a legal justification."

With the number of officials implicated in the CCP's anti-corruption campaign rising each year, particularly due to extensive purges within the military that have led to the arrest of numerous high-ranking generals—resulting in the near-total disappearance of generals—there is a widespread belief that this reflects internal conflicts among various power factions within the CCP. This situation indicates a significant internal division within the party and suggests a decline in the CCP's governing authority. Such views are precisely what the CCP is most eager to avoid.

Some commentators suggest that despite Zhang Youxia being reported for investigation in January, as of April 30, his official position has not been revoked in state media, indicating that his status remains in a state of adjustment. At the same time, information regarding Politburo member Ma Xingrui, who was also reported earlier, continues to appear on some official pages. Analysts have noted that this situation underscores significant internal disagreements within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regarding the handling of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Additionally, some commentators believe that this situation suggests that Xi Jinping's efforts to take action against Zhang Youxia may be 'unjustified and uncoordinated,' facing considerable resistance in revoking the positions of both Zhang and Liu, as Zhang possesses too many secrets about Xi and is unwilling to cooperate.

The case is complex, and there are serious internal disagreements.

Political scholar Liu Zhi (pseudonym) remarked that within the CCP's existing handling framework, cases involving Politburo members typically do not disclose the full amount of money involved. Even when made public, these figures are often adjusted to minimise social attention.

He stated: 'Generally, a relatively fixed range is provided, such as several tens of millions of yuan. This type of figure can address the issue without inciting excessive speculation. The actual situation is understood internally, but external communications tend to be more restrained, so a 'proper amount' needs to be discussed.'

On April 28, a meeting notice from the CCP's official media, Xinhua News Agency, revealed that Yang Xiaochao, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress's Qualification Review Committee, delivered a report concerning 'individual representatives.' However, the notice did not provide further details about the individuals involved.

In this context, Liu Zhi told reporters: 'This indicates that the circumstances surrounding the cases of Zhang and Liu are more complex than the outside world perceives, primarily due to ongoing disagreements among the higher-ups.'

Various sources indicate that although there is a high-level push to swiftly resolve military cases, there remains a lack of consensus on the pace of handling these issues across different levels. This discrepancy is evident not only in the speed of case advancement but also underscores the challenges of coordination within the power structure. As the internal investigation within the Communist Party of China (CPC) nears its conclusion, these cases are expected to enter a phase of heightened information release. The manner in which these cases are handled and the way information is disclosed will serve as a crucial lens for observing the current shifts in the power dynamics within the CPC military.

Analysts suggest that this situation may be linked to Zhang Youxia's unique position. Zhang Youxia serves as the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and is also a member of the Politburo. He is one of the most senior and highest-ranking active generals in the CPC military system and is among the few high-ranking generals in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) who have actual combat experience. His retention during the leadership transitions of the military commission at both the 19th and 20th CPC National Congresses, and his continuation as Executive Vice Chairman of the Military Commission in 2022—despite age norms—further underscores his significance. Additionally, he is widely regarded as one of Xi Jinping's most dependable political allies within the military.

Regarding the fallout between Xi and Zhang, the official report has indicated that Zhang Youxia is suspected of 'seriously undermining the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission.' This suggests an irreconcilable conflict between Xi and Zhang in terms of decision-making and command. Furthermore, online rumours have emerged 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 led Xi to feel that his authority is being challenged.
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