The removal of two top generals has intensified speculation that Xi is confronting powerful factions long embedded in the CCP.
News analysis
The sudden downfall of two of China’s most senior military leaders has fueled speculation that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is entering a decisive—and potentially destabilizing—phase of internal power consolidation.
On Jan. 24, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Zhang Youxia, a Politburo member and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Liu Zhenli, a CMC member and chief of the Joint Staff Department, were under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law.” The announcement marked one of the most dramatic purges at the top of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in decades.
According to Wen Rui, a China current affairs commentator based in South Korea, Xi’s move amounts to an open confrontation with three powerful groups long embedded within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)—the military establishment, the so-called “princeling” elite, and retired party elders.
“Xi Jinping has finally opened Pandora’s box,” Wen wrote on X . “What comes next may leave people stunned.”
Zhang Youxia’s Deep Roots in the Military
At the center of the storm is Zhang, widely regarded as one of the most deeply entrenched figures in the PLA. Zhang served in the military for more than five decades and is the son of Zhang Zongxun, a revolutionary-era general whose influence dates back to the CCP’s early military history.
According to Wen, the Zhang family’s networks within the PLA span generations, creating what he described as an extraordinarily complex web of loyalty and patronage. “Xi Jinping is effectively choosing a fight to the death with a massive force,” Wen said, suggesting that the scope of Zhang’s influence goes far beyond his formal titles.
Wen divided those potentially affected into two broad groups—officers who actively opposed Xi and aligned with Zhang, and those who did not openly challenge Xi but maintained close ties to the Zhang family. “Both groups are now within Xi Jinping’s strike zone,” he said, adding that Xi is unlikely to bother to make a distinction between them.
Even those who were not directly involved in factional struggles may now feel compelled to act out of fear of becoming collateral, according to Wen. “Xi will not let them go. [From his perspective,] it’s better to kill by mistake than to let anyone escape.”
Wen warned that Xi’s actions could trigger widespread turmoil within the armed forces.
“To eliminate future threats, Xi will aim to uproot everything,” he said. “That kind of thinking is bound to cause massive waves inside the military.”
In Wen’s assessment, Xi is increasingly treating the PLA’s senior ranks as potential enemies.
“He’s almost positioning himself in opposition to the military itself,” Wen said. “Do people really think these officers will simply sit and wait to be arrested?”
