On July 15, 2024, amid a major purge in the Chinese Communist Party’s military, a military newspaper reported that the correction of using the titles “big brother” and “second brother” within the military has sparked mockery among netizens.
The Chinese Communist Party’s military newspaper published an article today (15th) stating that a soldier named Zhao Zhenyu from the 80th Group Army was referred to as “little wings”, which led to a talk with the instructor.
According to reports, during the subsequent investigation, the instructor found that there was a phenomenon of irregular terms being used among a small number of officers and soldiers. Apart from using nicknames to address comrades, some soldiers also referred to senior soldiers with long years of service as “big brother” or “certain brother”, and some classmates even self-ranked and called each other “big brother” and “second brother”. The report mentioned that this gave a somewhat “ruffian-like” impression.
The report stated that the instructor questioned these titles as resembling “brotherhood”, and such arbitrary practices of addressing based on personal preferences are not acceptable. Subsequently, this instructor carried out internal rectification, demanding the “correction of improper titles among officers and soldiers,” and others.
On an overseas platform X, netizens ridiculed this practice within the Chinese Communist Party’s military, believing that the reporting in the military newspaper reflects the military’s fear of “warlordism” affecting Xi Jinping’s authority:
No feet bird: “There is only one ‘big brother’.”
Darong Wu: “Preventing warlordism in the Chinese Communist Party’s military!”
Winniepedia: “Accidentally exposing their bandit nature.”
sleep: “If it’s being reported, it definitely is not a minority.”
@shotdownccp: “Only Xi Jinping can be called ‘big brother’.”
According to commentator Du Zheng’s analysis in “Shanghai Times,” warlordism is a stubborn illness within the Chinese Communist Party’s military, existing since its establishment. There were past conflicts between the Red First Army and the Red Fourth Army, as well as major battles among various factions during the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. After the Chinese Communist Party took power, the military leaders also formed factions based on regional ties, constantly competing for power and profit. In the era of Xi Jinping, there has been no real change. Individuals from a province who hold high positions attract fellow officers from the same region to climb the ranks, forming a pattern.
Du Zheng stated that there are relatively more high-ranking officials in the military from the Fujian faction, Shandong faction, Henan faction, and Shaanxi faction, forming factions within the military.
The Chinese Communist Party is currently holding its 20th Third Plenary Session, with turbulence within the military. Authorities have just announced the expulsion of Wei Feng and Li Shangfu, former defense ministers, from the party and the military, stripping them of their rank as generals. Numerous other generals, including former Commander of the Rocket Force Li Yuchao, have also been confirmed to be ousted.