On September 21, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officially announced the expulsion of former Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and former Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Military Commission, Liu Zhenli, from the party and the military. Initially, the announcement only mentioned allegations of “forming cliques” and “intersection of political and economic issues” and emphasized corruption. However, on September 23, the CCP’s military newspaper issued a statement reiterating the harsh language used earlier in the year and stressed that dealing with Zhang and Liu “eliminated significant political risks.” Analysts believe this confirms a power struggle between Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping, resembling a coup.
The CCP’s military newspaper published a scathing editorial today (September 23), condemning Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for “deviating from the party’s core principles” and “crossing red lines and bottom lines, severely undermining the party’s absolute leadership over the military, and harming the party’s governance foundation through political and corrupt issues.” The article stated that the two individuals severely impacted the political ideology of the entire military, causing significant destruction to the political construction of the CCP’s military, its political ecology, and combat readiness, resulting in “extremely negative influences.”
The article emphasized that dealing with Zhang and Liu has eliminated significant political risks for the CCP and its military, marking a “major victory” in the anti-corruption campaign within the military. It called for the military to “unify thoughts and actions” with the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.
During a meeting of the CCP’s Central Political Bureau on September 21, after reviewing and approving the investigation report, it was reported that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli had “deviated from the party’s core principles” and “crossed red lines and bottom lines,” as well as being disloyal and dishonest to the party. The report also mentioned that the two individuals were involved in “interweaving political and economic problems,” suspected of serious crimes, providing assistance for others’ job promotions, accepting large sums of money, and receiving gifts and hospitality in violation of regulations, with particularly large amounts involved. Both were expelled from the party, discharged from the military, and transferred to military procuratorial organs for review and prosecution.
On January 24 of this year, both Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were officially removed from their positions. The next day, the military newspaper criticized the two for “seriously trampling on and damaging the Chairman responsibility system of the Military Commission,” which “affected the party’s absolute leadership over the military and harmed the party’s governing foundation.”
At the closing of the CCP’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee meeting on August 28, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were relieved of their positions on the State Central Military Commission and dismissed as National People’s Congress delegates. Subsequently, their names were also removed from the list of the Central Military Commission members on various official CCP websites.
China expert Li Linyi commented that after the official report accused Zhang and Liu of “crossing red lines and bottom lines” and “forming cliques,” the military newspaper’s article condemning them as a “major political risk” is essentially a “finishing blow,” confirming the power struggle between Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping, akin to an attempted coup.
Independent commentator Cai Shunkun previously revealed that Zhang Youxia had admitted to attempting to force Xi Jinping to transfer power and boldly claimed that “rewriting history was only one step away.” Xi is under immense pressure to handle Zhang Youxia publicly; however, if Xi Jinping fails to resolve the Zhang Youxia case, it could jeopardize his re-election at the 21st Party Congress next year and achieve a lifetime rule position.
China specialist Henghe told Da Ji Yuan that Xi Jinping’s crackdown on Zhang Youxia was because Zhang had sidelined Xi. When Xi Jinping arrested Zhang Youxia, there was no legal or party disciplinary basis, indicating a coup in itself.
He explained that a coup does not necessarily require the overthrow of the regime. By abruptly arresting Zhang Youxia, the top-ranked Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, without due process, Xi Jinping effectively demonstrated that he had been sidelined. This act represents Xi Jinping’s coup to regain power. Events of this nature in CCP history, besides the arrest of the Gang of Four, later led to Zhao Ziyang being placed under house arrest. Now, Zhang Youxia’s case is of a similar nature, though he was not the top leader.
In handling Zhang and Liu, the CCP’s military newspaper called on the military to “unify thoughts and actions” with the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. Li Linyi stated that this corresponds to the negative impact resulting from the crackdown on Zhang and Liu.
Under continued purges, the internal dissatisfaction accumulated within the military has become a focal point of external concern. Several inside sources within the CCP system recently disclosed to Da Ji Yuan that Zhang Youxia’s purge has sparked strong discontent within the Central Party and the military. The Central Military Commission had instructed the military to publicly express support for the decision, but many military units and personnel refused to comply.
From the Rocket Force and Military Commission equipment systems to the senior ranks of the Central Military Commission, in recent years, several individuals in the CCP’s military have fallen from grace. The fact that even Zhang Youxia, who was considered an important ally within Xi’s military, has been taken down, indicates that this military cleanse has reached the higher echelons of power within the military.