The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) moved up the announcement of its decision to purge two of China’s most senior military leaders, apparently seeking to settle the political fate of the generals before Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the United States, according to insiders within the Chinese regime.
The insiders spoke to The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.
The decision to expel former Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and former CMC Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli from the CCP and the military was originally expected to be announced at a major Party meeting in October, according to a Chinese military insider who spoke to The Epoch Times.
The military insider, surnamed Feng, said the timing changed after Xi personally called for the cases to be resolved ahead of the trip.
“According to what the top leaders said, this is how it will be decided. Their fate is irreversible, and the debates must stop,” Feng said.
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The unusually early announcement, according to Feng, was intended to put an end to internal debate over Zhang and Liu and formally establish the Party’s political judgment against them.
“As far as I know, there is very strong dissatisfaction within the central [regime] leadership and the military over Zhang Youxia’s purge,” he said. “Many military units refused to publicly express support in accordance with the requirements of the CMC.”
“This may be the first time in decades that the Chinese military has seen such a widespread refusal to make a public statement. The number of people involved could reach more than 1 million. It is extremely unusual.”
The claim could not be independently verified by The Epoch Times.
Political Loyalty
The official language surrounding the expulsions provides an indication of why the cases have become politically sensitive.
Following an investigation approved by the CCP’s top Politburo, the Party accused Zhang and Liu of disloyalty and factionalism. The regime also accused them of corruption.
A civilian employee of a Chinese military regional command, surnamed Sun, told The Epoch Times the wording is significant because it places political loyalty and internal alliances alongside corruption allegations.
“These expressions show that the Zhang and Liu cases have already gone beyond ordinary corruption problems,” Sun said.
Rather than treating the case as an isolated investigation into financial misconduct, the Party’s emphasis on factionalism could provide a basis for investigating officials associated with Zhang and Liu, according to the insiders.
Why the Timing Matters
The decision to move the announcement forward is particularly notable because the regime had previously delayed the disposition of the cases, according to Feng.
He said the leadership ultimately changed course because Xi wanted the matter settled before his U.S. trip. The timing would allow Xi to enter the visit without the unresolved status of Zhang, a former senior military leader who had occupied one of the most powerful positions in the Chinese armed forces.
Feng said the earlier postponed announcements had generated continued discussion inside the regime’s hierarchy, while the latest decision was intended to make clear that Zhang’s and Liu’s political fates were no longer open to debate.
From Anti-Corruption to Political Control
The significance of Zhang’s downfall lies not simply in his rank but in his previous position within the leadership structure and his longstanding status inside the military establishment. The fact that even a senior figure once regarded as part of Xi’s trusted circle could be accused of political disloyalty sends a message throughout the military, according to the insiders.
An insider who is a descendant of a first-generation CCP leader and knew Zhang personally during his childhood told The Epoch Times that he was surprised that Zhang had ultimately been caught up in the purge.
“I didn’t expect Zhang Youxia to be taken down as well. The vice chairman of the CMC, members of the commission, and ministers have all become high-risk positions,” the insider said.
The insider also recalled that Zhang was raised by a Russian nanny and spoke Russian as a child. He said Zhang did not know Xi during their childhood and that Xi was not part of their social circle at the time.
The account is notable because Zhang later became one of the CCP’s most senior military leaders and was widely regarded as a close ally of Xi, even though the two did not know each other as children.
The Sept. 21 decision now formally closes the party’s investigation phase, while the cases have been transferred to military prosecutors. The insiders said the attention inside the military is likely to remain focused on whether the investigations will extend to officials who worked with Zhang and Liu or were connected to their respective networks.
Sun Chen contributed to this report.
