A major shake-up has occurred in the high ranks of the Chinese Communist Party’s military. On the same day, Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, Liu Zhenli, were both removed from their positions. The simultaneous downfall of these two top-ranking military officers has been described by observers as a “nuclear explosion.” Experts believe that this event has dealt a significant blow to both the CCP regime and Xi Jinping. Some analysts argue that the intense infighting within the CCP indicates that Xi Jinping has no way back.
On the afternoon of January 24th, an official announcement stated that Zhang Youxia, a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department, were suspected of serious violations of discipline and law. Following deliberations by the CCP Central Committee, it was decided to initiate investigations into both individuals.
After the news was made public, the official Weibo account of CCTV News released a relevant announcement, sparking widespread attention. Although thousands of comments were visible initially, most of the content was later censored, leaving only brief interactions such as “keep an eye on it.”
Chinese-American economist Wen Guanzhong, currently a tenured professor at Trinity College in Connecticut, pointed out in an interview with Epoch Times that the concurrent investigations of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli indicate that the power struggle within the CCP and the military has reached a highly intense stage. In a highly centralized system, disagreements often cannot be resolved through institutionalized means and instead deteriorate into a “fight to the death.”
Wen Guanzhong believes that the event not only destabilizes the stability of the CCP’s military system but also poses a challenge to Xi Jinping’s military governance and the legitimacy of his regime.
Some independent media outlets directly refute the official explanation of “anti-corruption.” Blogger “Xiao Lin” pointed out that the high-level infighting within the CCP has become public and laid bare. The related actions appear more like a power struggle rather than an anti-corruption campaign. He suggests that under internal and external pressures, Xi Jinping’s decision to purge senior military officials signifies that he has no way back, further exacerbating the political risk.
Taiwan’s “Liberty Times” analyzed from a geopolitical perspective that within the CCP’s military system, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were regarded as a few of the few military leaders with actual combat experience. Zhang Youxia participated in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, providing him practical insight into cross-sea landings and logistical risks. He has long been viewed as a cautious faction with a relatively prudent attitude towards military adventures against Taiwan.
The downfall of both individuals has a significant impact on Taiwan’s geopolitics. Some analysts had previously suggested that Zhang Youxia did not advocate for a sudden military action against Taiwan at this stage. His downfall may indicate that Xi Jinping is sidelining internal voices opposed to military action or those who believe that the situation is not yet ripe for such moves.
In recent days, rumors have circulated about Zhang Youxia’s arrest. Many overseas Chinese netizens have expressed shock and concern that “military action against Taiwan is imminent” and that the “last brake for attacking Taiwan has failed.”
In response, Wen Guanzhong noted that the intense power struggle in the military would definitely weaken Xi’s position within the party and the military. There is a possibility that, in a bid to assert his authority, Xi might take a drastic gamble. However, a more likely scenario is that Xi will be preoccupied with consolidating his position within the military, leading to a delay in any military adventurism against Taiwan. He emphasized that the greater likelihood is that “for self-preservation, Xi Jinping will go to great lengths to stay in power until the end.”
On the internet, the simultaneous downfall of the two major Chinese military figures, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, has sparked a tsunami of public opinion. Overseas bloggers have pointed out that “Beijing is in a major crisis!” and that “China’s ‘civil war’ is unfolding.”
“Xiao Lin” suggests that Xi Jinping is making a final stand. Faced with pressure from the United States, Xi Jinping’s move against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli is his last-ditch effort. However, in reality, he is now in a precarious position.