On January 24th, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhang Youxia, and Central Military Commission Member and Chief of the General Staff of the Joint Staff Department, Liu Zhenli, were suddenly investigated. The military newspaper quickly published an editorial that evening to characterize the situation. However, unlike the immediate public support shown for the Party’s decision following the downfall of past high-ranking military officials like Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, the silence from various military regions and units after Zhang and Liu’s dismissal has raised concerns.
Since the announcement of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s investigation on January 24th, until January 26th, only the military newspaper has criticized Zhang and Liu for “seriously violating and damaging the Chairman responsibility system of the Military Commission, endangering the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party”. There has been no official statement of firm support or loyalty to the Party’s decision from regional military units, such as Eastern War Zone, Southern War Zone, etc., or discussions in official media.
Looking back on history, when former top military officials like Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong were expelled from the Party in 2014 and 2015, the military regions and units quickly expressed their support for the Party’s decision within two days. However, after the recent ousting of Central Military Commission members Fang Fenghui and Zhang Yang in 2018, there was no widespread show of support from the military.
Renowned commentator Chen Pokong mentioned that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, both veterans with positive images in the military, are among the few senior generals with combat experience from the Vietnam War. Taking action against them poses a significant risk for Xi Jinping as he fears potential rebellion within the military ranks. Chen believes that the absence of unified support from the military could indicate internal dissatisfaction or concerns over the handling of the situation.
Commentator Li Linyi expressed that the previous dismissals of military officials like Fang Fenghui and Zhang Yang were overshadowed by the removal of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou. In this case, the downfall of the highly respected Zhang Youxia carries more weight. The lack of public response from the military following Zhang and Liu’s dismissal may imply a shift in the authorities’ approach or an attempt to minimize any possible backlash within the military.
On the 26th, the Chinese Communist Party’s military newspaper published an article on its front page discussing anti-corruption measures in the military, emphasizing that no one is exempt and merit does not excuse wrongdoing, but without mentioning Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli specifically.
Following the announcement of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s dismissal, it was observed that the official Chinese government website removed the previously shared notice of Zhang’s investigation released by the Ministry of National Defense, for reasons unknown.
Overseas, a prominent activist Tang Baiqiao stated that there are ongoing debates over the legality of the arrest of Zhang Youxia, with his family and some subordinates expressing discontent and demanding rectification. The authority has halted further actions, leading to a rare challenge to Xi’s absolute authority, potentially increasing the risk of unintended consequences.
The ambiguous situation also caught the attention of online users, with questions raised about the conflicting information regarding Zhang Youxia’s status circulating on Chinese official websites and news sources. Zhang’s past activities remain visible on the Ministry of National Defense website, contrasting with the scrubbing of activity records for another former Deputy Chairman of the Military Commission, He Weidong, who was investigated last year.