In a sudden announcement on the afternoon of January 24th, Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and chief of staff of the Joint Staff, were unexpectedly sacked. The CPC military newspaper promptly issued a scathing editorial that criticized Zhang and Liu for seriously flouting and undermining the chairman responsibility system of the Military Commission, jeopardizing the foundation of the CPC’s governance, among other accusations.
The official notification of Zhang and Liu’s downfall by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense was followed by the publication of the editorial by the CPC military newspaper around 11 p.m. on January 24th, condemning the two officials.
The editorial claimed that the investigation into Zhang and Liu demonstrates the authorities’ determination to punish corruption without any bounds, ensuring all-encompassing coverage and zero tolerance, calling for the military to maintain a high degree of unity around Xi Jinping, the core of the Central Committee, and to follow Chairman Xi’s command.
The editorial’s language was forceful, lambasting Zhang and Liu for “severely betraying the trust and heavy responsibilities of the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission,” as well as “seriously contributing to affecting the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, undermining the political and corrupt issues fundamental to the Party’s governance,” and “seriously impacting the image and credibility of the Military Commission’s leadership team,” causing “significant damage to the political construction of the military, political ecology, and combat readiness building,” resulting in “extremely negative impacts,” and so on.
Political commentator Li Linyi indicated that the CPC military newspaper’s editorial, with its stark language, seemed to indirectly confirm the rumors of Zhang Youxia’s involvement in an attempted coup.
Following the official announcement of Zhang and Liu’s downfall, former Inner Mongolian official Du Wen cited internal sources in a self-media program, stating that widespread rumors within China suggest, “A coup has happened. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli jointly attempted a coup against Xi Jinping. They declared it as ‘responding to calls from inside and outside the Party, to save the Communist Party in the name of saving the party,’ but they were exposed. At a critical juncture, Xi Jinping devised a plan to capture Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.”
Du Wen added that various radical actions by Zhang Youxia’s former subordinates could erupt at any time.
Regarding the news of the coup and the military being on high alert, journalists from Dajiyuan are currently verifying the information.
Wall Street Journal reporter Wei Lingling also posted on social media, “This is far from over. Under the leadership of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, thousands of military officers have been promoted to higher positions, and now these people realize they are the main targets of systematic purges. Mobile phones of officials at all levels have been confiscated, and all units are on high alert.”
Li Linyi mentioned that the military newspaper’s release of such statements may appear as a victory for Xi Jinping, but soldiers and officers can see that the top echelons of the CPC can change their stance at any moment, causing disloyalty and corruption. A mutiny could indeed happen at any time.
Su Ziyun, Director of the Institute of National Defense Strategy and Resources at the Taiwan Institute for National Defense Studies, analyzed for Dajiyuan that the CCP’s internal struggles send a negative signal to its governance. Xi Jinping’s extreme leftist political approach is highly incompatible with the right-leaning economic policies, which may lead to more turmoil and pose a direct threat to the Party’s governance. This situation is solely brought about by Xi Jinping, who is essentially the chief accelerator of the CCP’s collapse.
Ironically, at the CCP’s Fourth Plenary Session of the Twentieth Central Committee in October last year, the authorities publicly dealt with a large number of generals, including former Vice Chairman of the Military Commission He Weidong and Commission Member Miao Hua. They were initially considered close to Xi Jinping but were denounced by the CPC military media as corrupt and disloyal. Subsequently, on November 12 of the same year, the CPC Party newspaper People’s Daily published an article by Zhang Youxia, mentioning “Xi Jinping” or “Chairman Xi” at least 20 times in the text. Zhang Youxia emphasized the need to staunchly guard against being “two-faced” or feigning loyalty.
At the time, political commentator Li Linyi remarked to Dajiyuan that the CCP system itself cultivates “two-faced” individuals – for instance, He Weidong earlier praised Xi’s ideology at a military discipline conference, and Lin Biao once displayed loyalty to Mao Zedong before ultimately being exposed for planning to flee. Zhang Youxia’s political stance may not hold during critical moments, potentially leading to Xi abandoning him or Zhang turning against Xi in the future.