Military Newspaper Publishes Another Article Harshly Denouncing Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli

Zhangh Youxia's fall

[People News] Following the January 25 editorial published on the Chinese military website and in the PLA Daily titled “Resolutely Win the Tough, Protracted, and Overall Battle Against Military Corruption,” which fiercely criticized Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli — accusing them of “seriously trampling and undermining the CMC Chairman Responsibility System, seriously fostering political and corruption problems that undermine the Party’s absolute leadership over the military and endanger the Party’s governing foundation, seriously damaging the image and authority of the CMC leadership, and severely impacting the political and ideological foundation of unity and progress among officers and soldiers” — and after calling on the entire military to “consciously maintain a high degree of consistency in thought, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee with Xi at its core, resolutely obey the command of the Party Central Committee, the CMC, and Chairman Xi,” and to “implement the CMC Chairman Responsibility System,” the military website and PLA Daily, after several days of silence, published another PLA Daily commentator article on January 31 titled “Firm Confidence That Anti-Corruption Will Triumph and the Military Will Be Strengthened.”

Like the January 25 piece, the January 31 article again named Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli four times. Its tone remained equally harsh and severe. In addition to again justifying Xi’s move against the two men and demanding that all officers and soldiers stay aligned with the “Xi Central leadership,” it also revived loyalty phrases that had largely disappeared for some time, such as “resolutely obey Chairman Xi’s command, be responsible to Chairman Xi, and reassure Chairman Xi.”

The renewed harsh denunciations of Zhang and Liu, along with the reappearance of past loyalty slogans glorifying Xi, give the impression that Xi Jinping has regained control of the military. However, one fact remains: the stance of those holding the pens does not necessarily represent the true attitude of the armed forces.

Since the official announcement of Zhang and Liu’s detention a week ago, the major PLA theater commands have remained unusually silent, failing to immediately issue collective loyalty statements as in the past. Overseas reports claim that troops in many regions are deeply dissatisfied, resisting CMC orders in a passive manner. Many generals are unwilling to make public statements, and a number of mid-level officers have reportedly applied for transfers, leaving the military in disarray.

This poses an unprecedented challenge to Xi, now nearly a “bare-pole” CMC chairman. A more accurate description may be that Xi’s camp has, to some extent, taken control of military media.

As the official newspaper of the Central Military Commission, the PLA Daily is directly under the CMC Political Work Department. Its former leaders, Miao Hua and executive deputy director He Hongjun, both close to Xi, have already fallen. The current deputy director in charge is either from Xi’s faction or, to preserve his position, has no choice but to obey Xi’s orders. This has enabled the military website and PLA Daily to nail Zhang and Liu to the “pillar of shame” in public opinion. The purpose appears singular: through de facto political labeling and propaganda, to force military officers who might seek justice for Zhang and Liu to retreat, and to pressure mid- and lower-level officers to follow their superiors into action.

It is somewhat strange that, for such a major case affecting the entire Party, military, and society, the January 31 commentary was downgraded in status. It was no longer an editorial but a commentator’s article.

What is the difference between an editorial and a commentator’s piece? First, their level of importance differs. An editorial reflects the newspaper’s official position on major issues, while a commentator’s article, though important, ranks below an editorial.

Second, an editorial represents not only the editorial board’s stance but also the government’s views and political position, carrying clear policy direction and guidance. A commentator’s article reflects only the editorial board’s perspective. Moreover, editorials generally require approval from the corresponding Party committee or relevant departments, whereas commentator pieces do not.

These differences suggest that the PLA Daily is actively seeking to show loyalty to Xi. One reason may be that overseas analyses and leaks describing military turmoil have unsettled Xi and his inner circle, prompting pressure on the military’s propaganda apparatus. The popular military joke “Are you a regimental political officer?” reportedly refers to such opportunistic pen-wielders.

Another possibility is that, amid potential mutiny within the military, Xi may have secured the support of certain loyal units, emboldening him. To reassert control over the armed forces, he must quickly establish authority by cementing the Zhang-Liu case as an ironclad, irreversible verdict, preventing any backlash. Xi understands well that he has no retreat; if he wants to survive, the only path is to launch sweeping purges like North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, eliminating opponents one by one in the military and Party. Otherwise, he will never know peace.

Will Xi succeed? In the author’s view, the new military newspaper article may not merely serve as a warning or deterrent. It could also provoke and push resolute officers within the ranks to fight with their backs against the wall for survival, achieving what the military paper called “renewal through changing feathers.”

(First published by People News) △