On November 10, 2026, reports from China Central Television (CCTV) during the evening news broadcast revealed that a member of the central propaganda team of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Li Hongzhong, who is also a member of the Political Bureau and Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, delivered a discourse on the spirit of the so-called Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. The previous day, on November 9, Zhang Shengmin, another Political Bureau member and Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, presented a similar discourse at the Military Commission’s headquarters. Additionally, Xie Chuntao, the Vice President of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) responsible for daily operations, delivered a report on the same topic in Sichuan on November 10.
Footage from CCTV showed that, during Zhang Shengmin’s report at the Military Commission, only two senior generals, Defense Minister Dong Jun and Military Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhang Shuguang, were present among the attendees. Notably, three other current active-duty generals—including Han Shengyan, commander of the Central Theater Command; Yang Zhibin, commander of the Eastern Theater Command; and Wang Gang, commander of the Air Force—were conspicuously absent.
In the three-member propaganda team, Zhang Shengmin’s report was mentioned a day later than those of Li Hongzhong and Xie Chuntao, as he spoke on November 9 while the other two delivered their reports on November 10. This delay in reporting raises questions, particularly in comparison to the simultaneous coverage of the other five members of the propaganda team during the previous day’s broadcast.
On November 9, 2026, CCTV also reported that Chen Wenqing, a Political Bureau member and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, addressed the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session at the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Huang Kunming, a Political Bureau member and Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, delivered his report in Guangdong, while Zhou Xinqun, Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office, conducted his discourse in Gansu on the same day.
A comparison of the two-day coverage by CCTV regarding the six individuals shows that, aside from Zhang Shengmin’s delayed reporting, the rest were all covered on the same day they presented their reports. This deviation is particularly notable given that, one year prior, the then Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, had been reported on the same day he delivered a discourse regarding the Fourth Plenary Session.
On November 3, 2025, during a live broadcast on CCTV’s evening news, Zhang Youxia had presented on the spirit of the so-called Fourth Plenary Session. Along with him, a number of other members of the Political Bureau also presented their reports, all of which were covered by CCTV on the same day. Zhang Youxia, as the first member of the Political Bureau to report, set a precedent for such timely coverage.
The questioning surrounding Zhang Shengmin’s delayed report becomes even more significant when considering that, had he received the same treatment as his colleagues, he would have been reported on the same day he presented, based on his ranking among the Political Bureau members.
With Zhang Shengmin recently promoted to the Political Bureau, speculation arises regarding why he was treated differently, potentially indicating underlying political maneuvering.
In October 2025, during the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, Zhang Shengmin was promoted to Vice Chairman of the Military Commission but was not elevated to the Political Bureau at that time. It was not until the meeting of the Fifth Plenary Session from October 26 to 29, 2026, that he finally achieved that status.
The Fifth Plenary Session saw several high-ranking officials absent or undergoing disciplinary action, including multiple senior generals. The Military Commission, which has nearly become incapacitated, currently consists solely of Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin. The prolonged vacancies and lack of appointments raise concerns regarding the stability and structure of military leadership.
On the evening of November 9, 2026, CCTV also reported Zhang Shengmin meeting with members of the Military Commission’s propaganda team. During this meeting, he was seen seated prominently in the center of the hall, while the other generals occupied seats flanking him. This image sparked considerable discussion on social media platforms overseas, with some interpreting it as a sign of Zhang’s rising prominence, which could potentially arouse suspicion from Xi Jinping or signify a precarious situation.
This situation evokes memories of the lead-up to previous purges, particularly before the Fourth Plenary Session when then-Vice Chairman of the Military Commission He Weidong and others faced sudden dismissals. Following Zhang Youxia’s ousting, speculations surrounding a prophecy regarding military coup led by a figure with a bow emerged, particularly regarding Zhang Youxia’s last name, which also contains the radical for ‘bow.’
The traditional Chinese prophetic text, “Tui Bei Tu,” includes verses that have generated intrigue surrounding the current military landscape. Xi Jinping’s belief in such prophecies and his preemptive actions against potential threats within the People’s Liberation Army indicate an atmosphere of caution and apprehension regarding his leadership position.
As Zhang Shengmin rises to prominence amidst these unfolding dynamics, the political implications within the military and the CCP remain to be fully understood as the interplay of power continues to shape the landscape of Chinese governance.