Recently, two top military leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia and Member of the Central Military Commission Liu Zhenli, were both taken down from their positions, sparking widespread discussions and speculation. An anonymous Beijing scholar, speaking to Dajiyuan, expressed that Xi Jinping targeting Zhang and Liu is a fatal blow to the entire CCP system, which will shake the military morale and lead to unpredictable consequences. The scholar stated that the CCP can no longer afford further turmoil.
Prior to the official announcement of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s downfall on January 24th, there were leaks from self-media personalities such as Jiang Wangzheng and Cai Shenkun revealing their arrests. Over the past three years, many fallen high-ranking officials, especially military generals and senior military officials, were first exposed overseas.
The scholar, using the pseudonym Ping Fu, told Dajiyuan that the ability of overseas individuals to release information ahead of time indicates that insiders within the CCP are providing them with intel. This exposes the current situation of CCP’s internal disintegration, revealing Xi Jinping’s loss of trust and popularity. Ping Fu mentioned that Xi Jinping’s capture of Zhang Youxia marks the peak of his purging of the top levels of the CCP in recent years. He mentioned that Xi’s actions display a lack of mature, steady, and systematic approach in both domestic and military affairs.
Ping Fu explained that Zhang Youxia originally held control over the military power because Xi lacks military knowledge and needed Zhang to manage the military. By taking down Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, Xi has created a “Red Terror” within the military. However, he still requires someone to replace Zhang Youxia to control the entire army. Ping Fu emphasized that Xi cannot trust anyone, as whoever comes forward may have their own hidden agendas.
Drawing comparisons to the 1991 Soviet “August Coup,” Ping Fu believes that Xi Jinping’s actions against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli resemble the events surrounding the Soviet Union’s demise. He critiqued Xi’s ruling style since taking power in 2012, leading China into chaos and revealing the lack of strong leadership within the CCP.
Following the news of Zhang and Liu’s downfall, online rumors surfaced alleging their involvement in an attempted coup, while others claimed that Xi Jinping’s associates acted preemptively. There have been speculations in recent years about Zhang Youxia leading a military rebellion to overthrow Xi Jinping, but Ping Fu stated that there has been no concrete action from the top echelons of the CCP to challenge Xi due to the pervasive internal corruption and individualistic motives within the military ranks.
Feng Chongyi, a Chinese affairs expert at the University of Technology in Sydney, previously mentioned to Dajiyuan that the overall weakness of the CCP military can be attributed to the corrupt officials at the top who lack ambition and solely depend on the Party for their livelihood, making them reluctant to betray the CCP. He highlighted the intense surveillance making collaboration for a collective action against Xi challenging, as everyone prioritizes personal gain over national interests.
After the announcement of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s downfall, the CCP’s military newspaper issued a strong editorial condemning the two individuals for violating the Military Commission Chairman responsibility system and endangering the basis of the CCP’s rule. The party emphasized its commitment to punishing corruption without exceptions.
Ping Fu mentioned that many observers had predicted over a decade ago that the CCP would eventually collapse. With Xi’s anti-corruption campaigns exposing widespread corruption within the Party, he has lost popular support. Plagued by internal decay, the CCP is on the brink of collapse, as reflected in its futile attempts to maintain power.
Ping Fu noted that compared to Xi’s earlier purging of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, the current situation suggests that the CCP’s vitality cannot withstand Xi’s destructive actions. Zhang Youxia’s downfall signifies a fatal blow to the entire CCP system, pushing the party further towards its demise.
In light of Xi Jinping’s escalating purge, Du Wen, a former official from Inner Mongolia now residing abroad, warned of potential retaliation from Zhang Youxia’s followers and the possibility of large-scale military mutinies, indicating the imminent danger of a political upheaval within the CCP and the potential downfall of Xi Jinping at any moment.