Insider Story: Two Fierce Clashes Between Zhang Youxia and Xi Before Zhang’s Arrest

Zhang Youxia's fall

[People News]The downfall of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli together was like a “nuclear bomb” dropped into the CCP political arena. Zhang Youxia was no ordinary figure. He had been Xi Jinping’s last “ballast stone” in the military and was once one of Xi’s closest “second-generation red” allies. Yet just days after the arrests, the situation reportedly took a turn that Xi could no longer control. According to multiple sources and expert analyses, after Xi used extraordinary means to remove Zhang, he not only failed to stabilize military authority but instead became mired in collective resistance within the armed forces and paralysis of the command system. Some reports even suggest that Xi has begun to regret his move. What kind of trap has Xi fallen into, and why has this decision left him in such a dilemma?

Politburo Meeting Without Appearances

First, consider the January 30 meeting of the CCP Politburo. Xi personally presided over the session, which discussed routine matters such as the government work report. Yet the official readout made no mention whatsoever of the downfalls of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Instead, it repeatedly stressed adherence to the “centralized and unified leadership” of the Party center.

That evening’s Xinwen Lianbo did not even show any footage of the meeting; the news anchor simply read the script. This “absence of faces” sent a signal of deep unease within Zhongnanhai.

Xi did appear in public the previous day, January 29, when he met visiting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Xi spoke about China’s cultural tradition of “valuing harmony” and pursuing “harmony without uniformity.” Observers noted the irony: having just ordered the harsh arrest of a longtime ally, how could Xi speak of harmony? Even if political views differ, why not allow “harmony with differences”? Xi’s outwardly mild manner combined with behind-the-scenes maneuvering may have been precisely what put an old military figure like Zhang at risk.

Why Might Xi Regret It?

Zhang Youxia was known for his straightforward personality and high prestige within the military. He was one of the few figures who dared to speak candidly to Xi, acting more like a brother than a subordinate. Past footage shows Zhang behaving casually around Xi, unlike other generals who were deferential. For over a decade, this “old friend” helped Xi maintain stability in the armed forces.

After Zhang’s arrest, CCP convention would normally require all theater commands and service branches to issue immediate statements of support. Instead, they reportedly remained silent. Multiple directives from the Central Military Commission were said to have met widespread resistance. Reports claim that at least two documents sent to theater commands and group armies went unimplemented, resulting in an unusual phenomenon of “empty circulation” of military orders. This may have been the moment when Xi began to regret his move.

The situation has been likened to a company boss firing a senior executive only to find that the entire workforce stops cooperating. By removing Zhang, Xi did not secure absolute obedience but instead risked paralyzing the military command system. The figures capable of stabilizing the armed forces were gone. Could Xi still hold onto his “throne”? This possibility, analysts suggest, may be what truly alarms him. Yet the arrest itself was intended to secure his power.

The “Southeast Faction” vs. the “Northwest Faction”

An insider reportedly told legal scholar Yuan Hongbing about how tensions between Xi and Zhang escalated. In an interview with Taiwanese host Liao Xiaojun, Yuan revealed two intense clashes between them before Zhang’s arrest.

Xi is said to have fostered two factions in the military: a “Southeast faction” led by Miao Hua and He Weidong, and a “Northwest faction” centered on Zhang Youxia. After the 20th Party Congress in 2022, these factions reportedly entered fierce power struggles. The Southeast faction first used anti-corruption measures to remove Defense Minister Li Shangfu, seen as aligned with Zhang. Zhang then countered, leading to purges of figures associated with the Southeast faction in 2025. These cycles of purges weakened overall command capabilities across theater commands and services.

Before the Fourth Plenum, Zhang recommended Liu Zhenli for promotion to CMC vice chairman, while Xi favored Zhang Shengmin. This was viewed as a challenge to Xi’s authority — the first major clash.

The second clash occurred one to two months later, when Zhang and Liu submitted a list of more than 70 officers for promotion, aiming to fill vacancies left after earlier purges. Zhang reportedly sought to build a successor team to protect himself and his faction after retirement. This proposal led to a heated confrontation. Some reports even claim Zhang once angrily said to Xi, “If I don’t let you leave today, would that count as a coup?”

Following these confrontations, Xi allegedly adopted deceptive tactics, pretending to compromise while secretly preparing to remove Zhang’s influence entirely.

After months of preparation, Xi reportedly used a specially formed force of around 10,000 personnel — described as similar to an imperial guard — to detain Zhang and Liu. The crackdown may have extended to hundreds or even thousands of mid- and senior-level officers.

Will Zhang Youxia Get a “Soft Landing”?

Now the world is watching how Xi will handle the aftermath. Official statements have begun to avoid mentioning Zhang and Liu, a subtle “cooling down” approach.

Democracy activist Tang Baiqiao suggested Xi might seek a “soft landing” for Zhang to calm military anger. Possible models include a “Hua Guofeng style” outcome — forced resignation with high-level待遇 but no public sentencing — or a “Zhao Ziyang style” outcome — long-term house arrest with preserved personal dignity but limited freedom. Given Zhang’s military influence, restrictions might be tighter than Zhao’s.

Xi may choose this route to prevent greater backlash. If Zhang were sent to Qincheng Prison or executed, it could trigger stronger resistance or even internal conflict. Xi reportedly faces pressure from military circles, Party elders, and princelings. Even U.S. officials have said they are “closely watching” developments.

For Xi, Zhang — once a stabilizing “ballast stone” — has become a political hot potato. His removal may not only have undermined Xi’s position but could become a catalyst for deeper instability within the CCP system. Xi sought absolute security through displays of authority but now finds himself in greater isolation.

As an old saying goes: “The face on the throne, the cracks beneath it.” Zhang’s fall may have exposed an irreparable fracture. Whether Xi truly regrets his move may reflect fear of losing control. Will a general like Xu Qinxian, who disobeyed orders in 1989, emerge again? Will the cracks in Zhongnanhai eventually bring down the “red walls”? Observers are watching closely.

(First published by People News) △