[People News] After Xi Jinping detained Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, for a full week there were no statements from Party media or Party, government, and military organs expressing “firm support for the wise decision of the Central Committee.” Then on January 28, a strange item suddenly appeared on the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s website titled “Xi Jinping Replies to Zimbabwean Veteran Fighters.” The article said Xi noted that in their youth, they had devoted themselves to the great cause of national liberation, left their hometowns, and formed indelible bonds and camaraderie in battle with China.

What makes this odd is that while Xi was arresting veteran soldiers within the PLA, he was extending goodwill to foreign veterans. Zimbabwe has not had particularly deep historical ties with China. Yet Xi’s words about youth devoted to a “great liberation cause,” forging unbreakable bonds in struggle, easily bring to mind Zhang Youxia. In CCP terminology, Zhang also devoted his youth to the “great liberation cause” and forged deep ties and camaraderie with Xi. But Xi’s letter referred to “you all,” suggesting a broader group—perhaps hinting at veteran PLA figures like Zhang.

The Party media’s publication of such a mild piece gives the impression of an indirect attempt to reassure veteran soldiers within the PLA. But how did these veterans respond? Silence—still silence.

On January 31, however, the PLA Daily published a commentary titled “Strengthen Confidence in Certain Victory Over Corruption and in Building a Strong Military.” It emphasized that the investigations into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were a firm struggle to eliminate major political hidden dangers. The article called on the entire military to implement the CMC chairman responsibility system, resolutely obey Chairman Xi’s command, and be accountable to Chairman Xi. It also urged all officers and soldiers to “resolutely support the Central Committee’s decision” and remain highly consistent with the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core in thought, politics, and action.

The reference to “major political hidden dangers” appears to lend official weight to rumors of a Zhang–Liu coup. More than a week later, the CCP is still demanding that the military “implement the CMC chairman responsibility system,” “be responsible to Chairman Xi,” and “resolutely support the Central Committee’s decision.” This suggests that the military—including veteran officers—has yet to fully comply or declare loyalty.

If the veterans have not been pacified, Xi’s gesture of reassurance has failed. That is an unsettling sign. This unease also seems reflected on China’s Ministry of National Defense website. The site that first announced Zhang and Liu’s downfall has since posted no follow-up reports, apart from reprinting one PLA Daily editorial. At the January 29 regular Defense Ministry press conference, none of the 16 questions addressed Zhang or Liu. Defense Ministry spokesperson Colonel Jiang Bin opened by saying, “I have no information to proactively release…” Is that normal? For Zhang Youxia, the first vice chairman of the CMC, to disappear without news is certainly not normal.

The Defense Ministry website is filled instead with routine items—congratulatory messages to foreign leaders, phone calls, introductions to military theory regulations—none reflecting internal tension. Instead, there is an oddly festive tone. That, too, seems abnormal. Even at the January 30 Politburo meeting, military representatives were absent, while the meeting emphasized “upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.” This is also highly unusual. What do these irregularities reveal?

Scholars including Kou Chien-wen, a distinguished professor of political science at National Chengchi University, and Ding Shu-fan, an emeritus professor at its Institute of East Asian Studies, said these signs suggest instability and unease within the PLA. Turmoil at the top has exposed dissatisfaction within both the military and the CCP leadership. Ding added that how Xi interacts with senior generals, builds mutual trust, and implements the CMC chairman responsibility system in practice are all problematic. Suspicion and mistrust now pervade the military from top to bottom. In such an environment, “lying flat” may be seen as the safest choice.

If everyone has engaged in corruption but showing loyalty does not guarantee safety, those who can survive freely will be those who avoid offending others and keep a low profile. As a result, corruption and disloyalty in the PLA may not diminish but instead go quiet and hidden. The PLA may have entered an era where passive resistance is expressed through silence and inaction.

(First published by People News) △