【Epoch Times News, February 24, 2026】Following the downfall of Vice-Chairman Zhang Youxia and Committee Member Liu Zhenli of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, the role of Peng Liyuan, the wife of the CCP leader Xi Jinping, in covertly controlling personnel decisions within the military has sparked attention. Zhang Youxia’s downfall was linked to his resistance against the presence of “family-run businesses” within the military. Analysts suggest that if the Minister of National Defense and a close associate of Peng Liyuan, Dong Jun, is promoted, it may indicate a revival of Xi’s military “family-run business.”
Professor Yuan Hongbing, who resides in Australia, revealed to “Watching China” on February 23 that Xi Jinping has long been running a “family-run business” within the military. Peng Liyuan holds a significant position as a full-time member of the Central Military Commission’s Committee for Appointing Cadres. Previously, the promotion of senior military officers within the CCP’s military largely relied on soliciting her opinions, causing strong discontent among military leaders.
As early as May 2024, a photo circulated on social media showed Peng Liyuan dressed in military uniform, wearing the rank of major general. The caption indicated she was conducting research on the talent pool at a military academy in her capacity as a full-time committee member of the Central Military Commission’s Cadre Appraisal Committee.
Upon assuming office, Xi Jinping initiated military reforms, consolidating the authority for the promotion of officers under the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department. In 2016, the Central Military Commission Cadre Appraisal Committee was established to oversee military promotions. Peng Liyuan served as a full-time committee member, participating in personnel decisions within the military. At the time, the aforementioned photo sparked speculation about Peng Liyuan’s covert control over the military and even her preparation for succeeding Xi Jinping.
Powerful figures in the military, such as Zhang Youxia, were considered obstacles to Peng Liyuan’s covert control over the military.
According to independent commentator Du Zheng’s analysis in “Shanghai Reporter,” Zhang Youxia, along with another Vice-Chairman of the Military Commission, He Weidong, and Committee Member and Director of the Military Commission’s Political Work Department, Miao Hua, were embroiled in serious internal conflicts. He Weidong and Miao Hua were believed to be close associates of Peng Liyuan and the orchestrators of her involvement in military personnel matters.
On October 17, 2025, the CCP announced the expulsion from the party and the military of nine generals, including Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Cadre Appraisal Committee, He Hongjun, for serious violations of discipline and law. He Hongjun was seen as the specific executor of Peng Liyuan’s role in the personnel system.
Following the downfall of Miao Hua and He Hongjun, the Military Commission’s Political Work Department, responsible for personnel affairs, underwent a restructuring. There were rumors online suggesting that Peng Liyuan had to temporarily withdraw from military personnel-related matters.
Prior to the fall of He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others, Zhang Youxia openly criticized serious flaws in the appointment of senior military officers during an expanded meeting of the Military Commission. He stated, “If one has the power of making decisions, one must bear the responsibility of those decisions,” emphasizing the need to avoid unilateral decision-making and the presence of “family-run businesses.” Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli also jointly submitted a list of over 70 generals, claiming to represent the “will of the military” based on a “popular opinion survey” from 100,000 military officers. This move was seen as a direct challenge to Xi Jinping’s ultimate authority over military appointments.
In a follow-up analysis by Du Zheng, it was revealed that Xi Jinping later secured the downfall of Zhang Youxia and his ally Liu Zhenli with the help of the Military Discipline Committee Secretary Zhang Shengmin, who betrayed Zhang Youxia.
After the arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin remained among the top echelons of the Central Military Commission. Speculation has been rife online that Xi Jinping may once again bring Peng Liyuan into the spotlight and even involve her in the core of the Military Commission, possibly appointing her as Vice-Chairman of the Military Commission.
Commentator Jiang Feng, residing in the United States, expressed on his own media platform that following the downfall of two pragmatic military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, the collapse of trust in the military leadership has left Xi Jinping with a lack of trustworthy personnel. If Peng Liyuan were to step into the forefront, it would not be due to her military acumen but rather because “there is no one left for Xi Jinping to rely on.” This does not symbolize a consolidation of power but rather a signal of extreme isolation. This indicates that Chinese Communist Party politics may be entering a “garbage time,” where the “family-run business” is not just a political joke but also a sign of the end of power.
Peng Liyuan has in recent years been occasionally accused of seeking to influence the government, drawing comparisons to Jiang Qing, the wife of Mao Zedong.
Yuan Hongbing, the legal expert residing in Australia, believes that considering the historical lessons of Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong’s wife, causing significant damage to the image of the CCP, Xi Jinping is unlikely to risk appointing Peng Liyuan as Vice-Chairman of the Military Commission. However, in terms of substantial control over personnel decisions, Peng Liyuan indeed remains Xi Jinping’s sole confidante.
With the fall of Zhang Youxia, recent personnel changes have been tumultuous within the CCP military. There have been changes in leadership positions in the Beijing Garrison, Shanghai Garrison, and the General Command of the People’s Armed Police in Tianjin.
A recent online circulation of a purported latest military appointment list includes: “Chen Demin, Air Force Major General, to oversee the Political Work Department of the Military Commission, Wang Chengnan, Air Force Major General, to oversee the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Military Commission, Xiong Zhaoyuan, Navy Major General, to oversee the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Military Commission, Liang Ping, Army Major General, to oversee the Political Work Department of the Central Theater Command. Army work will be supervised by Cai Zhijun and Zhang Shuguang, Navy work by Zhang Zheng and Hu Yu, Air Force work by Wang Gang and Shi Honggan, Rocket Force work by Lei Kai and Zhou Jingjing, and the Armed Police Force by Peng Jingtang and Wang Hongbin.”
While the accuracy of the list remains unverified, during a military-political symposium on February 6 in Beijing, the statement from the military was represented by the Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Military Commission, Chen Demin, whereas He Hongjun attended in 2025 and Miao Hua in 2024. This indicates that the Military Commission’s Political Work Department, responsible for military personnel affairs, is indeed led by Chen Demin.
After the official announcement of Zhang Youxia’s inspection, the CCP Military Commission promulgated the “Regulations on the Election of Party Organizations in the Military.” Executive Director Shin Ita of the Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank mentioned in an interview with Epoch Times that Xi Jinping is seeking to bring in a new group of individuals for appointment, hence the changes in the election procedures.
Currently, there are only four generals serving in their normal capacities within the CCP military: Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Zhang Shengmin, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun, Commander of the Eastern Theater Command Yang Zhibin, and Commander of the Central Theater Command Han Shengyan. The CCP Central Military Commission is left with only one general, with five vacancies to be filled (one Vice Chairman and four Committee Members), leading to a situation of “leadership vacuum” with numerous key positions in the military remaining unfilled.
General Dong Jun took over as Minister of National Defense at the end of 2023 following the downfall of Li Shangfu and is a close hometown associate of Peng Liyuan from Shandong, seen as part of Peng’s faction. However, since taking office, he has not managed to secure a position in the Military Commission and there have been rumors of an investigation into him.
On February 10, this year, Xi Jinping visited the Bayi Building in Beijing to extend New Year greetings to all military personnel via video, accompanied by Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun.
Commentator Li Linyi believes that from the CCTV footage, although Dong Jun had his back to the camera, his presence together with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Military Commission to inspect and comfort the troops represents the highest level of treatment he has received. During the National People’s Congress in March of this year, Dong Jun is highly likely to be promoted to the Military Commission and become a State Councillor.
Li Linyi stated that He Weidong, Miao Hua, and He Hongjun originally represented the “personnel line” controlled by Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan within the military, which was later destroyed by Zhang Youxia. If Dong Jun’s promotion to Military Commission Committee Member and State Councillor materializes, it signifies that following Zhang Youxia’s fall, Peng Liyuan will once again covertly control personnel decisions, and her military influence will rise again, with Xi Jinping’s “family-run business” reestablishing control.