The Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Youxia, was suddenly arrested last month, creating a stir within the CCP. Before the Chinese New Year, the CCP authorities released the list of retired senior officials visited by current leaders including Xi Jinping, claiming that these elders support Xi. Experts believe that the infighting within the CCP is conducted behind closed doors, and while official propaganda still emphasizes “unity”, Xi Jinping is more concerned about the “princeling” faction rather than the elders.
The Xinhua News Agency published on February 13 a list of retired senior officials above the deputy national level that current CCP leaders have visited or entrusted relevant personnel to visit. At the top of the list are Hu Jintao, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, Wen Jiabao, and others.
This year’s list includes 125 people. In comparison with last year’s list, five people who passed away last year are not on the list: He Di, Wang Bingqian, Zou Jiahua, Peng Peiyun, and Xu Qiliang.
Official media articles state that retired senior officials “wholeheartedly support” the central leadership under Xi Jinping, highly rate the achievements of the past year, and so on. The related wording is similar to previous years.
Shen Mingshi, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute of National Defense and Security Studies, told Epoch Times that this is just a superficial announcement, and in reality, these old officials, as well as the “princelings”, may have significant resistance to Xi Jinping. Therefore, this kind of news is just a form of propaganda.
Commentator Li Linyi also stated that the CCP infighting is conducted in secrecy, even if it’s a fight for life and death, they will still show “unity” on the surface. Of course, it’s not ruled out that some elders may compromise with Xi, prioritizing their immediate interests, thinking they can live out their old age in peace. However, for Xi, the most dangerous factor is actually the “princelings”, the second-generation reds, which is also a significant reason for the downfall of Liu Yazhou and Zhang Youxia.
Zhang Youxia was just arrested last month. One rumored version of the reason behind his downfall is that Zhang Youxia gained the support of CCP elders, possibly intervening in Xi Jinping’s reelection at the upcoming 21st CCP Congress next year, such as by promoting Xi’s successor, leading to Xi’s purge.
On February 10, overseas “princeling” writer Bi Ruxie wrote in “Vision Times” that Xi Jinping’s removal of Zhang Youxia aims to restore the system of “the party commands the gun” from the Mao Zedong era. Bi Ruxie is the same age as Zhang Youxia and was a classmate of Zhang at the prestigious Beijing school, Jing Shan.
Previously, rumors and reports about Zhang Youxia’s arrest causing political turmoil in Beijing continued. Overseas scholar Yuan Hongbing recently revealed to “Vision Times” that the princeling faction, including Liu Yuan and Deng Pufang, through Beijing’s official channels, are challenging Xi Jinping.
Yuan Hongbing cited information from individuals with conscience within the CCP system, saying that Zhang Youxia was arrested because he collaborated with Liu Zhenli to criticize Xi Jinping, attempting to control the appointment authority of senior military officers. Associated with this issue is that Liu Yuan, Deng Pufang, and other princeling families are planning to present proposals at the 2027 21st CCP Congress, calling for a return to the so-called “New Democracy Theory” of Liu Shaoqi and the so-called “reform and opening-up” line of Deng Xiaoping, opposing a return to the Cultural Revolution. The proposals will also suggest that among the current seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, at least three, like Cai Qi, Zhao Leji, and Li Xi, were rebels during the Cultural Revolution and are remnants of the Gang of Four.
It is reported that Liu Yuan and Deng Pufang have been whispering through Beijing’s official circles, stating that during the Cultural Revolution, Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping were branded as “bourgeois capitalist roaders in power”. If Xi Jinping dares, they will instigate a second Cultural Revolution and label the two as “bourgeois capitalist roaders in power” again.
Yuan Hongbing said that in response to challenges from Liu Yuan, Deng Pufang, and other princelings, Xi Jinping is currently in a dilemma. Xi Jinping is aware that the princeling faction is preparing to challenge his authority and is very worried that such a challenge will jeopardize his reelection at the 21st CCP Congress. However, on the other hand, he has not yet made up his mind to confront Liu Yuan, Deng Pufang, and their families in a decisive battle, nor has he determined to openly reject Deng Xiaoping’s political line.