Rumors of a power transition among the top brass of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continue to circulate and ferment. Several sources interviewed by The Epoch Times stated that during the Chinese New Year period, most military officials at all levels chose to forgo returning home for the holidays. In Beijing, these officials hardly ventured outside their residences to avoid being accused of forming cliques.
Speculations regarding the investigation of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, senior members of the CCP Central Military Commission, are still circulating, and the public is beginning to pay attention to Xi Jinping’s schedule during the Chinese New Year period. A resident of the Armored Forces Compound in Beijing, Mr. Liu, informed The Epoch Times, “I’ve heard that the military leadership remained in Beijing without leaving. He mentioned that Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin did not have any publicly disclosed outings during the Chinese New Year period. These claims have not been officially confirmed through public channels.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, on February 10, Xi Jinping visited the Longfu Temple Commercial District in Beijing to inspect the holiday market supply and festive atmosphere. The following day, Xi Jinping remotely checked the military’s combat readiness and task execution via video.
Xi Jinping attended public events for two consecutive days before the Lunar New Year and had no new disclosed schedules for about 10 days thereafter.
Mr. Xu, who is close to military sources, noted a sense of caution at various levels within the military around the Chinese New Year, a departure from previous years. He stated, “During the Chinese New Year, many military leaders are anxious, worried about becoming targets for purges. They are acting low-key, not venturing far from home, including refraining from visiting relatives or going back to their hometowns. Some even ask their wives to go out for shopping less.”
He mentioned that this year, many senior military officials chose to stay at their bases to celebrate the New Year with grassroots troops, making fewer arrangements for external activities and compressing personal schedules.
In previous Chinese New Year periods, many officers would visit their hometowns or engage in personal activities, but this year has seen a significant reduction in such behaviors. “This year, many top-ranking military officials stayed at their bases to celebrate the New Year with soldiers. In various military camps, company commanders organized internal festive activities, such as making dumplings, putting up spring couplets, and hosting gatherings. I’ve heard that the festive atmosphere this year is much less compared to previous years, with reduced funding from higher levels.”
He believed that the practice of military personnel “collectively celebrating the New Year” is uncommon and usually arises during tense times in the military from the grassroots level to the strategic regions, leading everyone to exercise caution and deliberately keep a low profile.
Longtime military affairs scholar Mr. Wang stated that rumors of the investigation involving Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli had been circulating within the military for nearly two months. He said, “A friend in Inner Mongolia informed me that the Zhurihe Training Base ceased training for about a month for reasons unknown. Training activities at the base need to be reported to the office of the Military Commission and approved by high-level authorities.” Mr. Wang indicated that changes in the training pace were likely not entirely unrelated to top-level personnel adjustments.
The Zhurihe Training Base, located in Inner Mongolia, is a crucial contract tactical training base of the CCP military, responsible for conducting large-scale live-fire confrontational exercises. Established in 2016, the Central Theater Command resulted from the restructuring of the previous Beijing and Jinan Military Regions, primarily tasked with defense duties in and around the capital Beijing.
Mr. Wang mentioned that significant training exercises at Zhurihe usually involve the coordination of multiple military branches and require higher levels of approval. “Major exercises are not something that grassroots units can decide on their own; they need to be reported to the office of the Military Commission, and some even require higher-level endorsements.” He explained that in the event of changes at the level of the Military Commission, activities may slow down as a precaution to avoid mistakes.
Chinese military scholar Chen Guoming (pseudonym) expressed to reporters that within the military system, any high-level position adjustments or scrutiny would lead to greater caution at the grassroots level to avoid crossing boundaries. He stated, “Just before the holidays, changes in the leadership structure of the CCP have a significant impact on the grassroots level. Currently, no one can say for sure where the command authority lies in the Eastern Theater Command (responsible for the Taiwan Strait) and the Central Theater Command (Beijing defense).”
Overseas military observer Marco (pseudonym) noted that the CCP military has been continuing its anti-corruption campaigns in recent years, resulting in the downfall of several generals. “Every time a high-ranking officer falls, it affects those below them. When a new leader takes over, whether orders can be smoothly transmitted to the grassroots level remains uncertain. Military exercises involve funding and approval processes, requiring reporting to the office of the Military Commission.”
Fujian-based independent military commentator Mr. Zhou told reporters, “Changes in the military atmosphere typically first manifest in small details, such as fewer public appearances by senior officers, adjustments in training pace, or changes in military newspaper layouts. These details, when pieced together, reveal the underlying sentiments.”
In recent years, the CCP military system has been actively promoting anti-corruption and rectification measures. Since 2023, several generals in the Rocket Corps and equipment systems have been reported for investigation, leading to frequent changes in the top echelons of the military. Rumors surrounding investigations into figures like Zhang Youxia persist against this backdrop and continue to be monitored by observers due to the unclear direction of military power and ongoing developments.