The incident involving the fall of Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party continues to attract high attention from the public. Multiple insiders revealed that on January 24th, the Central Military Commission of the CCP initiated “wartime readiness” level of protection and control measures to guard against possible internal loss of control and sudden risks.
Regarding Zhang Youxia’s official downfall, a military insider Liu Jian (alias) from mainland China told Epoch Times on January 30th that several hours before the Ministry of National Defense of the CCP issued a major notice involving high-ranking military officials, the Military Commission system had already been placed on the highest level of security status. “At that time, the situation was very sudden, we were not clear about what had happened, we just heard that the Ministry of National Defense would make an important announcement, but it was surprising to elevate it to ‘wartime readiness’ because the top leader was not on an overseas visit.”
Liu Jian recalled that after the relevant information was made public, many people within the military were shocked, gradually realizing the true intention behind initiating the “wartime readiness” earlier. He said, “It was later understood that this was to prevent internal issues. They might be concerned about abnormal situations within the military.”
According to Liu Jian, on January 24th, the security at the Central Military Commission building was significantly heightened, with a large number of Central Guard Bureau personnel stationed. “People were moving computers, data, and documents in cardboard boxes, and the atmosphere on-site was very tense.”
Military expert Liu Zhenqiang (alias) explained that within the CCP system, “wartime readiness” does not solely refer to preparations for external combat but is a high alert operational state centered on political security. He said, “During the period when the top leader of the CCP nation is on an overseas visit, the military usually enters this wartime readiness level of control to prevent internal emergencies and internal chaos, focusing on ensuring stable command channels and absolute obedience rather than targeting external military conflicts.”
Shandong army retiree Mr. Lu shares a similar perspective. He stated that within the CCP system, such “wartime readiness” measures have previously been mainly utilized during Xi Jinping’s overseas visits or major political event nodes, primarily aimed at ensuring the safety of the top leadership and stability of the command structure. The direct initiation of this level in the absence of external military conflict and leader’s foreign visits is considered abnormal within the military. He said, “This is not for external military preparedness, but for internal wartime readiness.”
Following the public disclosure of the incident involving Zhang Youxia, the CCP’s defense system is perceived to have entered a relatively fragile stage in recent years. Multiple indications suggest that the high alert status within the military in recent times is not due to significant changes in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, or border situations but is closely related to adjustments within the highest-level power structure of the CCP, including the Central Military Commission.
Expert Liu Zhenqiang stated that the stability foundation of the CCP’s military is not built on the system but relies on personal authority and loyalty. People like Zhang Youxia have long been seen as crucial pillars for Xi Jinping within the military, responsible for maintaining factional balance and suppressing potential instabilities within the military. He said, “If these two important ‘ministers’ of Xi Jinping encounter trouble, there may be fence-sitters among the seven members of the CCP’s Politburo Standing Committee, posing a significant challenge to Xi Jinping.”
However, military sources pointed out that with the sudden decrease in the number of Military Commission members, the core figures who actually hold military power within the Central Military Commission of the CCP have significantly diminished. Although Xi Jinping is the Chairman of the Military Commission, he does not directly command troops; meanwhile, the recently promoted Zhang Shengmin has long been engaged in civilian and disciplinary work within the military, appearing weaker compared to Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, who have long held actual command power. This source mentioned concerns within the military about whether officers and soldiers in various major war zones would follow orders beyond Zhang Youxia.
Recently, multiple signals released by the CCP military are seen as manifestations of these changes. Insiders summarized that the related actions mainly focus on three areas: emphasizing “absolute loyalty” and “obedience” repeatedly at a higher frequency than before; tightening discipline, confidentiality, public opinion, and personnel movements within the military, especially targeting senior military officials; strengthening shifts, emergency mobilizations, and internal security exercises in the absence of clear external wartime variables.
Some analysts believe that the current state of high tension within the CCP reflects the top-level concerns about the reliability of the military. Historical experiences show that when a regime begins to rely primarily on the military to prevent instability within its own system, its security structure often enters a relatively vulnerable stage.