Amid the ongoing turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, who has been accused of monopolizing military power, penned an article praising CCP leader Xi Jinping. Zhang mentioned Xi at least 20 times in the article, claiming a comprehensive military reform to prevent being “two-faced” or showing false loyalty and to uphold the core. Analysts believe Zhang’s move might be aimed at dispelling rumors of him “playing king” in the military or responding to pressure amid internal power struggles.
Published on November 12 in the CCP’s official media, People’s Daily, Zhang’s article titled “High-Quality Advancement of National Defense and Military Modernization” appeared on the front page. Zhang stated that during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, they must firmly implement Chairman Xi’s directives.
The article mentioned “Xi Jinping” or “Chairman Xi” at least 20 times, praising him for creatively proposing comprehensive military governance and emphasizing the need to prevent being “two-faced,” demonstrating false loyalty, and ensuring that “upholding the core and following the Party’s commands are rooted in the minds of officers and soldiers,” among other things. It also touched upon sensitive topics such as “winning local wars.”
On November 3, Southern Metropolis Daily reported that Zhang Youxia had previously published a similar article in a guidebook for the CCP’s “15th Five-Year Plan” recommendations.
Commentator Li Linyi told Epoch Times that this might be Zhang’s most blatant show of favor towards Xi. The article was reported 9 days ago and it seems unusual for it to be reprinted in the Party’s official media now.
“One possibility is that he has reached a compromise with Xi Jinping to safeguard his political power, hence the announcement to reorganize the crumbling military and even prepare for war. Another possibility is that under pressure from internal power struggles, he is making surface moves intentionally to dispel rumors. Recent speculations about him gaining power and acting like a king within the military are rife.”
Li Linyi mentioned that Zhang’s statement about preventing being two-faced or showing false loyalty seems directed at He Weidong, Miao Hua, and others. However, this itself carries irony, as the CCP system itself breeds “two-faced” individuals. For example, earlier this year, He Weidong praised Xi’s ideology in a military discipline committee meeting, similar to how Lin Biao once professed loyalty to Mao Zedong, only to be later exposed and flee.
At the CCP’s Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee last month, several high-ranking officials such as former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong and Military Commission member Miao Hua were dealt with. They were personally promoted by Xi Jinping. CCP military media accused them of being corrupt and “disloyal.”
During the CCP’s Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee’s nationwide propaganda session on November 3, only four top generals, including Zhang Youxia, Zhang Shengmin, Liu Zhenli, and Dong Jun, attended as other senior officials had been removed from their positions. Zhang Youxia expressed loyalty to Xi Jinping in his speech at the event, with the newly appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Military Commission member Liu Zhenli seated in the front row while Defense Minister and other senior officers were in the second row.
Independent commentator Du Zheng analyzed in Taiwan’s Up Media that as Zhang Shengmin did not make it to the Political Bureau, Zhang Youxia, being the only Political Bureau member among military personnel, stands alone in power. Compared to his speech at the plenum after the Third Plenum last year, his recent speech exhibited greater authority, almost as if he were “playing king” in the military.
The author suggests that while outwardly both Zhang Youxia and Zhang Shengmin express loyalty to Xi, Zhang’s dominant power structure seems to have sidelined Xi’s military authority. If he truly harbors ambitions, akin to Lin Biao’s style, he might become a figure who controls the Party with a gun and does not support Xi. Even if Zhang Youxia genuinely aims to cleanse the CCP of corruption, it is well-known that the entire CCP military apparatus is corrupt, and Xi’s anti-corruption efforts have only led to more corruption over the years.