Zhang Youxia Removed as CMC Vice Chairman, Sparking Military Discontent

Is the military still following orders? Xi Jinping is uncertain! (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Communist Party of China has officially decided to dismiss Zhang Youxia from his role as Vice Chairman of the National Central Military Commission, alongside Liu Zhenli, who has also been removed from his position as a member of the Commission. Both individuals have additionally lost their roles as representatives in the National People's Congress. Insiders have indicated that this dismissal has once again sent shockwaves through the military, with active-duty generals expressing feelings of anger and helplessness, while retired generals are reacting even more strongly.

On August 28, Xinhua, the official state media, reported that the 24th meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress concluded in Beijing. During this meeting, a vote was held to remove Zhang Youxia from his position as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and Liu Zhenli from his role as a member of the Commission. The government has not announced any successors for these positions.

Mr. Mo, an insider, informed reporters that the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party and the National Central Military Commission operate under a system of 'one set of personnel, two signs.' Zhang Youxia's removal from the Vice Chairman position effectively excludes him from the highest echelons of leadership within the Communist Party's military.

He remarked, 'Active-duty generals are angry about Zhang Youxia being completely stripped of his military role, but they also feel helpless. The morale among the troops has reverted to the state it was in when Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were announced to step down in January of this year; this latest upheaval is quite significant.'

Retired generals are reportedly drinking in silence and refusing to take calls.

Mr. Mo noted that the strongest reactions following Zhang Youxia's dismissal have come from retired generals.

He remarked, "I’ve heard that retired generals are quite unhappy, and their reactions are the most pronounced. Some are drinking alone at home, while others are ignoring calls from their units. It appears that retired generals are very angry; overall, they have many grievances."

On January 24 of this year, the Ministry of National Defense of the Communist Party of China announced that Zhang Youxia, who was then a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff, were "suspected of serious violations of discipline and law" and were placed under investigation. The PLA Daily later published an article stating that the two had "seriously undermined the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission" and called for military personnel to align their thoughts and actions with the decisions made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Liu Wei (pseudonym), a scholar knowledgeable about the military situation in mainland China, revealed to reporters that just before the National People's Congress Standing Committee of the Communist Party dismissed Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, the higher-ups had already instructed grassroots political commissars to organize study sessions on the editorial from the PLA Daily. He noted that the higher-ups first provided stationed troops with a "preventive measure," directing officers to understand the Central Committee's political assessment of Zhang and Liu, and to ensure alignment with the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. At that time, many anticipated that action would be taken against Zhang Youxia, legally stripping him of all his powers and silencing any dissenters.

The layered expressions serve to suppress dissent within the military.

Zhang Youxia has been removed from his position as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, reigniting anger within the military, according to insiders.

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Communist Party of China has decided to dismiss Zhang Youxia from his role as Vice Chairman of the National Central Military Commission, while Liu Zhenli has also been removed from his position as a member of the same commission. Both individuals have been stripped of their roles as representatives of the National People's Congress. Insiders have indicated that this formal dismissal has once again sent shockwaves through the military, with active-duty generals expressing feelings of anger and helplessness, while retired generals are reacting even more strongly.

On August 28, Xinhua, the official media, reported that the 24th meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress concluded in Beijing. The meeting voted to remove Zhang Youxia from his position as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and Liu Zhenli from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission. The authorities did not announce who would succeed them in these roles.

Mr. Mo, an insider, informed reporters that the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China and the National Central Military Commission operate under a system of 'one set of personnel, two signs.' Zhang Youxia's removal from the Vice Chairman position effectively excludes him from the highest echelons of leadership within the Communist Party's military.

He remarked, 'Active-duty generals are angry about Zhang Youxia being completely stripped of his military position, but they also feel helpless. The morale among the troops has reverted to the state it was in when Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were announced to step down in January of this year; this latest upheaval is quite significant.'

Retired generals are reportedly drinking in silence and refusing to take calls.

Mr. Mo also noted that the strongest reactions following Zhang Youxia's dismissal have come from retired generals.

He remarked, "I’ve heard that retired generals are quite unhappy, and their reactions have been the most intense. Some are drinking alone at home, while others are ignoring calls from their units. It appears that the retired generals are very angry; overall, they have many grievances."

On January 24 of this year, the Ministry of National Defense of the Communist Party of China announced that Zhang Youxia, who was then a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff, were "suspected of serious violations of discipline and law" and were placed under investigation. The PLA Daily later published an article stating that the two had "seriously violated and undermined the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission" and urged military personnel to align their thoughts and actions with the decisions made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Liu Wei (pseudonym), a scholar knowledgeable about the military situation in mainland China, revealed to reporters that just before the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress dismissed Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, the higher-ups had already instructed grassroots political commissars to organize study sessions on the editorial from the PLA Daily. He noted that the leadership first provided the stationed troops with a "preventive measure," instructing officers to understand the Central Committee's political characterization of Zhang and Liu, and to ensure alignment with the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. At that time, many anticipated that action would be taken against Zhang Youxia, legally stripping him of all his powers to silence any opposition.

Layer-by-Layer Signaling to Suppress Dissent Within the Military

Zhang Youxia participated in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and subsequent border operations, and Liu Zhenli also has experience in border combat. The two are among the few active senior generals in the Chinese Communist Party’s military with real combat experience. Zhang Youxia has also been a military figure long relied upon by CCP leader Xi Jinping since he came to power, serving two consecutive terms as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and approving the promotion of a large number of generals during his tenure. As Zhang Youxia has been purged, some of the generals who were promoted during his tenure have also come under investigation.

This time, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress completed the dismissal procedures at the level of state institutions. The internal military study arrangements disclosed by Lou Wei show that before the formal dismissal, the CCP had already used the political commissar system to convey the political characterization of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli to the grassroots, requiring officers and soldiers to unify their stance.

Mr. Mo revealed that even if active-duty military personnel are dissatisfied, they do not dare to express their opinions publicly. Retired generals are relatively less constrained and react more directly in private. After the NPC Standing Committee completed the dismissal procedures, military personnel can no longer question the investigation and handling results or even obstruct them on the grounds that Zhang Youxia still holds a position in the state Central Military Commission.

Only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin Remain Among the Seven CMC Members

The “State Central Military Commission” formed in March 2023 originally had seven members, including Chairman Xi Jinping, Vice Chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, as well as four members: Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua, and Zhang Shengmin.

Li Shangfu, He Weidong, and Miao Hua have successively fallen from power. Zhang Shengmin was subsequently promoted to Vice Chairman of the CMC. After Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were formally dismissed, the only publicly remaining members of the State Central Military Commission are Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, reducing its membership from seven to two. According to informed sources, before the CCP’s 21st Party Congress, there is no intention to add new members to the Central Military Commission, and it is “very likely to maintain a two-member CMC until the end of next year’s Party Congress.”

The changes in the qualifications of National People’s Congress deputies announced on August 28 also involved Zhong Shaojun, a close military aide to Xi Jinping and former director of the CMC General Office, as well as Ju Qiansheng, former commander of the Information Support Force. Both were simultaneously removed from their positions as NPC deputies. △