Does the Beijing Garrison Still Remain Loyal to Xi Jinping?

The image shows representatives from the Chinese military attending the Two Sessions in Beijing. (Video screenshot)

[People News] The Beijing Garrison falls under the command of the People's Liberation Army's Headquarters and is directly overseen by the Central Military Commission (CMC). Its main responsibilities include safeguarding the capital's security, protecting the safety of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders, and, during wartime, covering the central authority's evacuation or relocation, defending against external threats, counter-terrorism, and riot control. For these reasons, the Beijing Garrison is often referred to as the "Imperial Guard." There is a common saying that whoever controls the Beijing Garrison controls half of Beijing. Historically, the commander of the Beijing Garrison is appointed by the Chairman of the CCP’s Military Commission and is chosen as someone who has the Chairman's trust.

Currently, the Beijing Garrison has a total force of about 30,000 soldiers, with two security divisions under its command. Among these, the 3rd Security Division is a heavy-armored unit, which includes six regiments. One of these is the 13th Regiment, commonly known as the "Tiger Regiment" due to historical reasons. This regiment is considered the top regiment of the capital's garrison forces and has participated in significant missions such as the National Day parade, security for the Beijing Olympics, and wartime duty shifts.

On November 13, a seemingly ordinary but actually unusual news piece was featured on the front page of the PLA Daily. The headline read: "The Beijing Garrison Conducts In-Depth Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Conference—Aiming at Special Mission, Cultivating Loyalty." However, the content of the report seemed rather perfunctory. On July 16, shortly after the CMC Political Conference was held in June, a similar piece was published on the front page of the PLA Daily. The title was "A Regiment of the Beijing Garrison Conducts In-Depth Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the CMC Political Work Conference—Loyal to Mission, Practicing on the Battlefield." What are the similarities and differences between these two mentions of the same conference spirit?

First, both headlines emphasize the issue of "loyalty," as the security of CCP leaders is the garrison's primary concern. If disloyal individuals emerge, anything could happen.

Second, in the November news piece, the political leaders of the garrison stressed that "absolute loyalty to the Party is the Party's foremost political requirement for the military," as the garrison’s mission is unique and its tasks are diverse, making the quality of loyalty even more essential. The article then describes how the garrison studied the "spirit" of the speech by "Chairman Xi" at the CMC Political Work Conference, and the methods taken to guide officers and soldiers to remain loyal politically, including rehearsing a dramatization centered on Zhang Side, who was crushed to death in a cave in Yan'an while refining opium. "Chairman Xi" is mentioned only once in the entire report.

However, in the July report, it was said that officers and soldiers of a regiment in the garrison engaged in "intense discussion" around Xi Jinping's speech. The report repeatedly mentioned "Chairman Xi." One officer expressed it as follows: "With Chairman Xi at the helm, the goal of building the army by the centennial will surely be achieved as scheduled. As security personnel of the new era, we must firmly follow in thought, remain absolutely loyal politically, sincerely love emotionally, and closely follow in action."

Furthermore, phrases such as "aligning thoughts and actions with the spirit of Chairman Xi's important speech and the conference's deployment requirements," and "Chairman Xi summarized the new era's strategy of building the army politically into the 'Ten Definities,' which is richly connotative and systematically complete...we must combine studying Chairman Xi's important speech with investigation and research…" and "we must always remember Chairman Xi's exhortation to 'maintain a high state of vigilance and fulfill the responsibilities assigned'" appear throughout.

It’s clear that while officers and soldiers of the garrison showed loyalty to Xi during the study of the CMC spirit in July, by November, the loyalty shown was directed to the "Party" rather than "Chairman Xi," indicating once again that Xi's control over the military might be slipping.

So, who controls the Beijing Garrison? Since the 18th National Congress of the CCP, Xi Jinping has replaced the Beijing Garrison's commander four times. These commanders were Zheng Chuanfu (2009-2013), Pan Liangshi (2013-2016), Wang Chunning (2016-2020), and Fu Wenhua (2020-present). At the same time, the Political Commissar has also been replaced four times, with Gao Donglu, Jiang Yong, Zhang Fandi, and Zhu Jun in succession.

Official data show that Fu Wenhua previously served in the 16th Group Army of the Shenyang Military Region and was highly valued by Zhang Youxia, the then commander of the Shenyang Military Region. With Zhang's support, Fu rose to brigade commander, later furthered his studies at the Army Command College and National Defense University, and studied abroad in Germany. In 2016, he was promoted to Chief of Staff of the 54th Group Army, ascending to the deputy army level, then later becoming Chief of Staff of the 81st Group Army, before being appointed as Commander of the Beijing Garrison. His promotions are closely linked to Zhang Youxia's support.

As for Zhu Jun, who began his role as Political Commissar in September this year, he previously served as Political Commissar of an Air Force unit in Yunnan and as Political Commissar of the Air Force Urumqi Base. Former CMC Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang also hails from the Air Force. Although no direct link between the two can currently be found, Zhu’s appointment to such an important position is certainly significant.

Undoubtedly, if Xi’s control over the military is weakening and Zhang Youxia is the actual power within the military, then it’s obvious who the Beijing Garrison Commander, appointed by Zhang, and a Political Commissar not directly affiliated with Xi would obey. The recent statement by the Beijing Garrison has already provided the answer. △

(First published by People News)