On the afternoon of January 24th, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officially announced that Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, were under investigation, sparking heated discussions overseas. Rumors of Zhang’s downfall had already caught the attention of the United States days earlier, with former Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, General Flynn, commenting that a political upheaval was taking place within China.
January 24th saw members of the CCP Central Political Bureau and the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, being investigated. Rumors surrounding their situation had been circulating online for days and are now confirmed. This development has caused a frenzy online, with netizens believing that something significant is happening within the CCP.
“It’s not good. This means that key members of the military who could voice dissenting opinions are gone. He might make misguided decisions about the situation ahead, coupled with China’s frantic gold buying. A Taiwan Strait conflict may erupt in 2027, and all we can do is brace for impact.”
“The speed from the rumors circulating online to the official announcement is unprecedented! Xi Jinping has finally caught the second-in-command of the military. Xi’s faction, the Party’s Guards, are virtually wiped out, leaving no one. The internal power struggle within the CCP will reach a boiling point anytime now!”
“The official announcement came too fast. Undoubtedly, there has been a quasi coup happening!”
“It’s not a quasi coup, but a coup, counter-coup, and another coup.”
“Out of the seven members of the 20th Central Military Commission, only Zhang Shengmin and Xi Jinping remain.”
“Zhang Youxia is not He Weidong. His arrest, from any angle, signifies impending turmoil in Chinese politics.”
“With Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli under investigation, almost the entire 20th Military Commission has been decimated. The naked power struggle within the military’s two major factions has resulted in mutual destruction.”
“In the past few days, based on political logic and common sense in the officialdom, there was a complete misjudgment. Indecision and hesitation among friends have ultimately led to a disaster. Parker predicted weeks ago that there would be a failed military coup in China. It seems like it’s only a matter of time. With only Zhang Shengmin left in the Central Military Commission, will he be rewarded for betrayal or be the next one purged?”
“Zhang Youxia is inevitably faced with retribution! The Vietnam War faction and the Taiwan Strait faction are completely decimated!”
“I could believe if it were 2 to 3 corrupt generals, but this broad purge seems hard to believe it’s just about corruption. Who would destroy the Great Wall to this extent? There’s only one explanation—when the Great Wall is intact, the falling stones will hit oneself.”
Prior to his arrest, rumors of Zhang Youxia being detained had been circulating online. The speculation surrounding the arrest of Zhang Youxia, the military’s second-in-command, had caught the attention of the U.S. military and intelligence community.
General Flynn, former Director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, reposted a post by Tsai Shengkun on the 23rd, commenting: “Breaking News: Political upheaval within the Chinese Communist Party/China is happening!!! There seems to be significant turmoil within the CCP and its military leadership. These conditions resemble a coup, and its consequences will directly impact U.S. foreign policy, military deployments in the Indo-Pacific region, and the overall trajectory of U.S.-China relations.”
He called out to CCP leader Xi Jinping, saying, “General Secretary Xi—be prepared, as the internal turmoil in China will not end well.”
China expert Zhang Jiadun also commented on X: “If the top-ranking active-duty military officer in China and over 15 others have been removed from the command structure, then we must ask this question: Does anyone really control the world’s largest military now?”
A self-media account, “The Man Who Tells Stories,” commented on the 23rd: “The arrest of Zhang Youxia is no small matter. Zhang is not only a general but also Xi Jinping’s ‘blood brother.’ The two families have had a profound bond for generations. Now, even this core, intimate ‘iron-buddy’ is being targeted—what does this signify? The power struggle within the Beijing leadership has turned ruthless, to the point of showing no familial loyalty. This is a clear sign of the final desperate flares of an authoritarian dynasty.”
A user on the X platform said, “The extent of this military purge is unprecedented. The downfall of two consecutive Vice Chairmen of the Military Commission reflects an atmosphere of terror and personal insecurity within the Party. Xi Jinping’s unending political campaigns and crackdowns against potential threats ultimately point to fundamental issues within the Communist Party’s system.”