On Saturday, January 24th, the Chinese Communist Party surprisingly and rapidly announced investigations into “serious violations of discipline and law” against two of the country’s most powerful generals: Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and member of the Politburo, and Liu Zhenli, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also a member of the commission
These two men held crucial positions in the command of the People’s Liberation Army and were seen as pillars of Xi Jinping’s personal control over the armed forces.
What is striking is the speed of the action.
Unlike previous cases, where authorities took months to confirm investigations, here the announcement came almost immediately after the generals’ public disappearance-Zhang had not appeared since a promotion ceremony in December 2025. This speed suggests that Xi acted preventively and decisively to eliminate a perceived threat at the heart of the military apparatus.
From a conservative standpoint, this exposes the chronic instability of the Chinese communist regime.
Far from demonstrating absolute strength, the purge of such close and trusted figures-Zhang was considered a long-time ally of Xi-reveals paranoia, widespread distrust, and fierce internal struggles at the top of the Party.
Independent analysts and voices in exile report that the operation was much larger than it appears: at least a dozen more high-ranking officials were detained in coordinated actions, with elite security units mobilized, severe restrictions on communication and movement within the armed forces-a climate of tension that some compare to the most serious since the regime’s founding in 1949.
There is strong evidence that Zhang and Liu participated in or were accused of plotting against Xi, possibly under the pretext of “saving the Party” from its increasingly authoritarian leadership.
An internal betrayal-someone from the inner circle who denounced the group to gain favors-appears to have been the trigger.
This narrative of a failed coup or an eliminated opposition faction doesn’t sound like mere routine corruption, but rather a sign of deep rifts within the core of power.
For those who value stability and order, the episode is alarming.
Xi may be consolidating power in the short term by removing potential rivals, but successive and incessant purges undermine the cohesion and loyalty of the Armed Forces-the exact opposite of what an authoritarian regime needs to remain strong.
A distrustful and constantly monitored army loses operational efficiency and combat morale.
In the international arena, especially in the Taiwan Strait, the risk increases.
The removal of experienced and more moderate generals could push Xi towards aggressive gambles to force “unification” with Taiwan, using nationalism as a distraction from internal crises.
At the same time, the chaos in the Chinese military command could weaken its real capacity to execute a large-scale operation, creating a window of vulnerability-something that democratic nations, such as the United States and its allies, should observe with heightened attention.
Ultimately, this purge reinforces an inconvenient truth: the Chinese Communist Party system is inherently unstable, based on fear, suspicion, and the struggle for absolute power.
No matter who wins these bloody power struggles at the top-the regime will remain oppressive, devoid of freedom, accountability, and genuine prospects for change for the Chinese people.
While Xi governs through internal terror, the free world has a responsibility to remain vigilant and steadfast against the expansionist ambitions of a regime that, despite its propaganda, is increasingly showing cracks.
Published in 01/26/2026 05h16
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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