00:00Just days ago, China's military establishment was shaken by a report so explosive it sent
00:26shockwaves through Beijing and far beyond. A man once considered untouchable, one of President
00:34Xi Jinping's closest allies, has suddenly disappeared from power. General Zhang Yuxia.
00:42At 75 years old, Zhang Yuxia is not just any general. He is the vice chairman of China's
00:50Central Military Commission, the body that directly controls the People's Liberation Army.
00:55His military career spans more than six decades. He fought in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and for
01:05years he was seen as a key operational commander, a man who helped turn Xi Jinping's orders into
01:12military reality. Their connection ran deep. Their fathers were revolutionary comrades. They grew up
01:20in the same political ecosystem. For many inside China, Zhang was considered part of Xi's inner circle.
01:28Until now. On January 24th, 2026, reports emerged that Zhang Yuxia had been removed from his post and
01:39placed under formal investigation for what Beijing calls serious violations of discipline. But according
01:46to multiple Western reports, the real accusation is far more damaging. Zhang is alleged to have leaked
01:54core technical data from China's nuclear weapons program to the United States. Let that sink in.
02:02This could include sensitive details about warhead design, delivery systems, or China's atomic
02:09capabilities. If true, it would represent one of the most serious security breaches in Chinese history.
02:17The case doesn't stop there. Zhang is also accused of accepting bribes to promote a colleague to
02:24defense minister and of forming so-called political cliques in the PLA. In Chinese political language,
02:32that phrase signals disloyalty. Key evidence reportedly came from Gu Jun, former head of the
02:40China National Nuclear Corporation, who himself is under investigation in a broader purge of the defense
02:47and nuclear sectors. Notably, Beijing has said nothing publicly about any nuclear leak. No details,
02:55no evidence released, no confirmation from Washington. This opaqueness is typical of high-level CCP investigations,
03:05where charges of espionage are often kept broad and closed to public scrutiny. Here's where analysts say
03:12this case gets even bigger. Since taking power in 2012, Xi Jinping has purged more than 100 senior
03:22military officers under the banner of anti-corruption. Experts argue these moves are not just about cleaning up
03:29graft, but about consolidating power, eliminating rivals, and enforcing absolute loyalty. Zhang's fall is
03:38stunning because he was seen as too close to Xi to ever be touched, which sends a clear message. No one is safe.
03:48The timing is critical. This comes after the removal of former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Feng Ha in 2023 and
03:582024. With Zhang gone, Xi is now the undisputed power inside the Central Military Commission. Analysts say
04:07this may be about preparing the PLA for long-term goals, including a potential move on Taiwan as the military
04:15approaches its 2027th centennial. Implications. While Chinese state media frames this as routine
04:23anti-corruption, Western and independent analyses warn it could damage military morale, create paranoia among
04:32officers, and undermine readiness. At the same time, it reinforces Xi Jinping's image as an uncompromising leader,
04:41one willing to sacrifice even his closest allies to maintain control.
04:46For now, the investigation continues in silence. No trial, no verdict, no public evidence. But one thing is
04:56clear, the fall of General Zhang Yuxia is not just a corruption case. It is a window into the high-stakes
05:04power struggle at the very top of China's military and political system.
05:34China's military hierarchy has been shaken to its core. In a stunning move, President Xi Jinping has
05:42removed China's two most senior generals, triggering the biggest purge inside the People's Liberation Army
05:49in decades. With investigations announced against top commanders and nearly two-thirds of senior
05:57officers now sidelined or under scrutiny, a chilling question is surfacing far beyond Beijing. Is Xi consolidating
06:06absolute control, or does this expose fear of a potential coup from within? Beijing confirmed that
06:14Zhang Yuxia, first vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and China's top uniformed officer,
06:21is under investigation. Alongside him, Liu Zhenli, chief of the PLA's Joint Staff Department, has also fallen.
06:30Their removal leaves the Supreme Military Command effectively reduced to Xi Jinping himself and one
06:37other loyalist overseeing discipline. In a system built on hierarchy and stability, this kind of vacuum is
06:47extraordinary and deeply unsettling. Timing is everything. The purge comes just ahead of two critical
06:57milestones — the Communist Party's 21st Congress and the PLA's 100th anniversary, both central to Xi's
07:07vision of a modern, loyal fighting force. Chinese state media insists this is about discipline and
07:16anti-corruption. But analysts say removing such senior figures this close to major political events is risky,
07:23unless Xi believes the threat is real.
07:30State outlets accused the generals of undermining the CMC chairman responsibility system — the doctrine that
07:37gives Xi final say over every military decision. That accusation is critical. It suggests not just
07:45corruption, but disloyalty, the ultimate red line in Xi's China. In PLA language, this is as close as
07:54Beijing gets to accusing senior officers of challenging the leader himself.
08:02Zhang Yaoxia's downfall is especially shocking. He wasn't just a top general — he was a trusted insider
08:09with family ties to Xi Jinping dating back to the Civil War era. Promoted despite being past retirement
08:16age, Zhang was seen as untouchable. His sudden removal sends a brutal message — loyalty offers
08:23no immunity if Xi senses even a hint of dissent. Does this mean Xi fears a coup? Chinese leadership will
08:31never say it, but history offers clues. Authoritarian systems often purge elites not when they are strongest,
08:40but when leaders fear fragmentation. With economic stress, global pressure, and rising military ambition,
08:47she appears determined to leave nothing and no one unchecked.
08:54She calls this self-revolution, purging the party to preserve its rule. But revolutions inside
09:00armies are never without risk. By sidelining so many senior officers, Xi may be tightening control,
09:08or quietly admitting that absolute power requires absolute fear.
09:16In China's military, the message is now unmistakable. Obedience isn't enough. Only total loyalty ensures
09:24survival.
09:46Subscribe to One India and never miss an update. Download the One India app now.
09:54In also outreach bakayım with B
10:16Minus zum www.minus zum www.minus.eu.
Comments