The Chinese Communist Party has officially announced that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee will be held in October. Rumors of a power struggle between Xi Jinping, the leader of the CCP, and General Zhang Youxia, a princeling in the military, have been circulating. Prior to the Fourth Plenary Session, a large military parade commemorating the resistance against Japan will be held in Beijing on September 3. The political situation is sensitive, with signs of internal struggles within the military still intensifying.
Xi Jinping met with military officers stationed in Tibet on August 20, but the unusual absence of Fang Yongxiang, Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission, caught attention. Recently, photos of Fang Yongxiang’s predecessor, Zhong Shaojun, meeting with foreign dignitaries surfaced online, but the news was suppressed within China, with even Zhong’s name restricted on social media platforms. Additionally, it has been rumored that Qin Shengxiang, Xi Jinping’s first military secretary after coming to power, is under investigation. Some analysts believe that Xi Jinping is being subjected to a form of “courtly purging.”
On August 23, news spread on an overseas platform about the reappearance of Zhong Shaojun, a confidant of Xi Jinping and former Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission. Although it was previously rumored that Zhong Shaojun had been transferred to the Political Commissar of the National Defense University in April last year, official reports about his new position have been conspicuously absent.
The latest sighting of Zhong Shaojun came from a few days ago in Singapore, based on a Facebook post by the Singapore Ministry of Defense on August 19. During his visit to Beijing, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Defense, Chan Qing Ji, met with various high-ranking Chinese military leaders, including Zhong Shaojun.
However, on August 19, the official website of the Chinese Ministry of Defense only reported on Dong Jun’s meeting with Chan Qing Ji, omitting any mention of Chan’s meetings with other officials. Photos of Chan’s separate meetings with Dong Jun, Xu Qiling, and Yang Xuejun circulated on Chinese social media, but the absence of Zhong Shaojun was notable, with searches for his name yielding no results, unlike the searches for Xu Qiling and Yang Xuejun.
Observers at the Office of Political Affairs (Battlefield) noted, “Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of Defense, Chan Qing Ji, conducted a working visit to Beijing. During his meeting with the Chinese Minister of Defense, Dong Jun appeared at least respectful in his posture and demeanor. However, when Chan Qing Ji met Zhong Shaojun, the latter was seen almost lounging on the couch, appearing as bloated as a pig, lacking proper decorum. This behavior of ingratiating flattery towards superiors and arrogant condescension towards subordinates is why Zhang Youxia has likely relieved him of his duties as the Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission.”
Online commenters added, “Dong is a professional soldier. Zhong only puts on a military uniform as part of his job. Therefore, Zhong lacks military discipline and bearing.” “It’s clear that he’s corrupt.” “This is sheer debauchery. He knows this is the end for him, and if luck isn’t on his side, it’s the Qin City for him.” “This person can’t handle significant responsibilities.”
On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping’s birth on August 22, 2024, an official commemorative symposium was held, where Zhong Shaojun was previously seen. The official media coverage captured Zhong Shaojun with two stars on his shoulder boards, signifying his rank as a lieutenant general.
Commentator Li Lin told The Epoch Times that while it may seem insignificant that the Singaporean Defense Ministry official met with Dong Jun and other Chinese officials without further mention, the absence of Zhong Shaojun in the social media photos and his name being restricted from searches appear peculiar, indicating that he has become a sensitive figure within the authorities.
Xi Jinping met with colonel-ranked officers and above from the troops stationed in Lhasa, Tibet, on August 20. State media footage revealed that Major General Qiu Yang, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission, accompanied him, while the current Director, Fang Yongxiang, was notably absent.
Rumors had circulated online in March and April this year that Fang Yongxiang had been removed from his position and reassigned as the Deputy Political Commissar of the National Defense University.
Fang Yongxiang, as well as Miao Hua, former Political Director of the Central Military Commission who has fallen from grace, and General He Weidong, rumored to be under investigation since March, all hail from the former 31st Group Army stationed in Fujian. This army had close ties to Xi Jinping in his early years, and incidents previously involving them point towards the 31st Army’s officials being targeted.
Additionally, in October last year, social media circulated news of former Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission, General Qin Shengxiang, being taken away for investigation. This information resurfaced in July this year.
Qin Shengxiang was promoted to the rank of major general in 2007 during Hu Jintao’s era but had not seen further promotion for many years. After Xi Jinping consolidated power following the 18th National Congress of the CCP, he began to promote Qin Shengxiang. In December 2012, Xi Jinping elevated Qin Shengxiang to the Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission, making him a key figure in the military. Qin Shengxiang was further promoted to lieutenant general in 2015 and concurrently held the position of Director of the Military Reform Office in 2016, overseeing military reforms for Xi. He was transferred to the Navy as the Political Commissar in 2017 and promoted to Admiral in 2019.
Independent commentator Du Zheng expressed his views in a Taiwanese media outlet on August 23, stating that Zhong Shaojun’s removal from his influential position as the Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission and the speculated reassignment of Fang Yongxiang to a lesser role at the Military Science Academy both hint at demotions. The cleansing of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and the General Office of the Central Military Commission, along with the potential troubles facing retired General Qin Shengxiang, who had served under Xi’s leadership over the years, suggest an unsettling trend. This raises doubts as to whether Xi Jinping’s much-touted ‘self-revolution’ is truly happening or if instead, he is facing a ‘courtly purging’.