A Power Struggle in Plain Sight

What began as an anti-corruption campaign within China’s military has spiraled into a wave of purges, disappearances, and rumors of suicide. Over the past two years, more than a dozen top military leaders, including two defense ministers, have been removed from their posts. The Chinese government claims it is cleaning up corruption. But experts, insiders, and former officials now believe something more serious is happening. Some say that Chinese leader Xi Jinping may be losing control of the very military he restructured and ruled for more than a decade.

According to Gordon Chang, writing in The Hill, “The Chinese military is apparently embroiled in its worst crisis since Marshal Lin Biao died in a mysterious plane crash in 1971.” Lin’s death followed what many believe was a failed coup against Mao Zedong. Today’s crisis may not be a carbon copy, but the pattern is similar: factions inside the military appear to be tearing each other apart—and Xi may no longer be calling the shots.

The Arrest That Shook Beijing

The case of General Miao Hua, once considered one of Xi’s closest allies, marked a turning point. Miao was arrested in November 2024, just days before Xi departed for international summits. His arrest was publicly confirmed by the Ministry of Defense, rather than the Party’s usual mouthpiece, Xinhua News Agency. That alone was unusual. Even more surprising was the dramatic nature of the arrest. According to reports cited by The Epoch Times, Miao was taken from his home by 200 armed police and forced into a vehicle with a black hood over his head.

Miao had a long history with Xi, dating back to their time in Fujian province. After Xi rose to power, Miao’s career took off. He became Political Commissar of the Navy in 2014 and joined the Central Military Commission (CMC) in 2018. These promotions, experts say, were signs of Xi’s deep trust.

Yet after Miao’s arrest, insiders claimed he revealed the names of over 1,300 military personnel involved in misconduct, including nearly 100 generals. Many were officers that Xi had personally promoted. Former law professor Yuan Hongbing told The Epoch Times that Xi was so stunned by the revelations that his hair turned gray overnight.

Missing Generals and Grim Rumors

One of the most alarming developments has been the disappearance of General He Weidong, the vice chairman of the CMC and one of the highest-ranking officers in China. He was last seen in public in March 2025. By May, online rumors were spreading that He had taken his own life while in custody. Though these reports remain unconfirmed, many believe they are credible.

Insiders have described the brutal conditions faced by detained officers. According to Yuan, prisoners are often placed in “coffin-like” cells with no light, no privacy, and only a drain in the floor for bodily functions. Food is dropped from a small skylight. “Most people held in such conditions reportedly break down and confess to everything within a week,” Yuan said. He suggested that He Weidong may have died by suicide rather than endure the humiliation and torture.

If true, the death of General He—Xi’s top adviser on Taiwan invasion planning—would be a major blow to the Chinese leader’s authority and his military plans.

Who Is Really in Control?

As Xi’s allies fall one by one, another name has risen in prominence: General Zhang Youxia. A veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and one of the last remaining “princelings” with real combat experience, Zhang is vice chairman of the CMC and holds enormous influence. Commentators say he is now taking a leading role in the purges.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, current affairs analyst Tang Jingyuan explained, “All of the recent military purges have exclusively targeted Xi’s allies, while members of other factions have remained untouched.” He believes Zhang Youxia, supported by powerful party elders, is now directing the purges as a way to push back against Xi’s dominance.

Zhang is closely tied to Zhang Shengmin, the military’s top anti-corruption official. The two have reportedly developed a strong working relationship. If Zhang Shengmin is managing the purge, as insiders claim, then key personnel decisions are now in the hands of Xi’s rivals.

Former Navy officer Yao Cheng said in a separate interview that Xi has failed to fully implement the “Chairman Responsibility System,” which was supposed to place the entire military under his direct control. “With figures like Miao Hua and Li Shangfu removed, the Central Military Commission is paralyzed,” he said.

Political Shockwaves and Public Silence

Xi’s problems go beyond the military. Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi, another of Xi’s trusted allies, has missed key public events. His son, Cai Erjin, is rumored to be under investigation for espionage or may have been involved in a staged car crash. These developments have fueled speculation that forces within the Party are coordinating to weaken Xi’s grip.

State media coverage of Xi has also diminished since the CCP’s Third Plenary Session in July 2024. Previously routine pledges of loyalty from Party leaders have become rare. In contrast, Zhang Youxia has stepped into the spotlight, meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, welcoming Russian and Vietnamese officials, and hosting military conferences while Xi remained in the background.

The Bigger Threat: Internal Collapse

Phillip Saunders and Joel Wuthnow of the National Defense University recently wrote that Xi’s ongoing purge “casts doubt” on his ability to lead China into a future military conflict, particularly a Taiwan invasion. They wrote, “The wave of dismissals may mean that Mr. Xi cannot fully trust what his military advisers tell him about China’s readiness for war.”

They also warned that corruption remains a serious issue within the PLA. The U.S. Department of Defense has reported that graft within the Rocket Force may have led to the installation of faulty equipment, including missile silos that require repairs.

Saunders and Wuthnow added, “Military effectiveness depends heavily on battlefield leadership.” Because China has not fought a war since 1979, most of its officers have no combat experience. Political indoctrination and loyalty tests have replaced military training in some areas, limiting commanders’ ability to act quickly and effectively in war.

As military expert Charles Burton put it, “Severe dissatisfaction with Xi’s rule by significant factions of the Chinese Communist Party and of the Party’s People’s Liberation Army suggests that the current leadership of China faces an existential threat.”

The Road Ahead

What happens next remains uncertain. Some insiders believe Xi may be forced to resign from one or more of his leadership positions—perhaps as General Secretary or Chairman of the Military Commission—while remaining the symbolic head of state. This would allow his rivals to defuse the crisis without triggering open conflict within the Party.

In the meantime, Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong has warned of the need to maintain “social stability and political order” through the winter and into next spring. While these comments may refer to rising unemployment or economic problems, many observers see them as subtle warnings of deeper political unrest.

For now, the Chinese Communist Party is trying to hold things together as it faces internal instability and growing external pressure. With U.S. tariffs looming and public trust declining, Xi Jinping’s leadership faces its greatest test yet.

If Xi loses control of the military, the impact will not stay within China’s borders. A desperate or divided regime could act unpredictably. As Gordon Chang warns, “A Xi under siege could decide to lash out. Danger to the regime could have global consequences.”

ACZ Editor: In addition to the political ramifications, this illustrates the brutality that still exists in China, the willingness to torture anyone who doesn’t toe the line, the willilngness to treat alleged criminal in a manner that would make the average American puke. The very purpose of this web site is to expose the nature of the Chinese Communist Party and prevent from reaching there goal of domination.