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Xi Jinping has launched another sweeping purge—this time taking down one of China’s top generals Zhang Youxia. Paranoia is spreading through the People’s Liberation Army as Xi wipes out even his own loyalists. What does this mean for China’s military readiness, internal stability, and the risk of war with Taiwan?

China Uncensored

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50,008 views • 6 months ago •via X (Twitter)

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Xi Jinping has removed almost a fifth of his top generals—the largest military purge since Mao. What does this mean for China’s future and global stability?

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Where is Zhang Youxia? Is he the latest victim of Xi's military purge? January 20, Xi Jinping spoke at a major Party seminar. All Politburo Standing Committee members were present. But one absence stood out. CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia did not appear in CCTV footage. In this deep-dive video, I break down the rumors swirling around Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, and the recent disappearances of top generals like He Hongjun, He Weidong, and Miao Hua. Some speculate there’s been a power grab inside the PLA—but that theory ignores the cold reality of how China’s military is actually structured under Xi Jinping.

Where is Zhang Youxia? Is he the latest victim of Xi's military purge? January 20, Xi Jinping spoke at a major Party seminar. All Politburo Standing Committee members were present. But one absence stood out. CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia did not appear in CCTV footage. In this deep-dive video, I break down the rumors swirling around Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, and the recent disappearances of top generals like He Hongjun, He Weidong, and Miao Hua. Some speculate there’s been a power grab inside the PLA—but that theory ignores the cold reality of how China’s military is actually structured under Xi Jinping.

Ken Cao-The China Crash Chronicle

19,236 views • 6 months ago

China’s Military Just Lost Its Last Real Generals and PLA"s Military Command Is Imploding in Real Time. How I Knew China’s Top General Was Finished — Before the CCP Admitted It. And Why the Taiwan Strait Just Got Safer. Days ago, I asked a simple question: Where is Zhang Youxia? I was mocked as a rumor-monger. Today, Beijing confirmed it: China’s top general is finished. This video breaks down how the disappearance of Zhang Youxia signaled a political earthquake inside the PLA, why Xi Jinping’s latest purge has hollowed out China’s military command, and why this internal chaos actually makes a Taiwan war less likely in the near term. This isn’t about coups or speculation. It’s about how power really works in authoritarian systems.

China’s Military Just Lost Its Last Real Generals and PLA"s Military Command Is Imploding in Real Time. How I Knew China’s Top General Was Finished — Before the CCP Admitted It. And Why the Taiwan Strait Just Got Safer. Days ago, I asked a simple question: Where is Zhang Youxia? I was mocked as a rumor-monger. Today, Beijing confirmed it: China’s top general is finished. This video breaks down how the disappearance of Zhang Youxia signaled a political earthquake inside the PLA, why Xi Jinping’s latest purge has hollowed out China’s military command, and why this internal chaos actually makes a Taiwan war less likely in the near term. This isn’t about coups or speculation. It’s about how power really works in authoritarian systems.

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326,949 views • 6 months ago

Why China’s Military Is a Paper Dragon — and Why It’ll Collapse If It Invades Taiwan. China’s Top Generals Are Falling One by One. Xi Is Repeating Stalin’s Worst Military Mistake. China’s military might look powerful on TV — but behind the parades and propaganda, it’s falling apart. In this episode, I expose why Xi Jinping’s so-called “war machine” is rotting from within. From purged generals like Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli to a culture of corruption and fake loyalty, the PLA has become a paper dragon — loud, shiny, and hollow. If Beijing ever invades Taiwan, it won’t be a battle… it’ll be a breakdown.

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42,333 views • 6 months ago

How Xi’s Purge Is Pushing China Toward Warlordism. Xi Started a Cultural Revolution inside PLA — And Can’t End It. China Can’t Invade Taiwan Anymore. What happens when a leader destroys the chain of command he depends on? Xi Jinping’s arrest of Zhang Youxia wasn’t just a purge — it shattered the PLA’s command structure. In this video, I explain why taking down China’s top active-duty general risks pushing the military toward fragmentation and modern warlordism, not greater control. I break down the historical parallels with Lin Biao and the Cultural Revolution, why the Central Military Commission is now effectively paralyzed, and why this makes a Taiwan war far less likely — while increasing internal instability.

How Xi’s Purge Is Pushing China Toward Warlordism. Xi Started a Cultural Revolution inside PLA — And Can’t End It. China Can’t Invade Taiwan Anymore. What happens when a leader destroys the chain of command he depends on? Xi Jinping’s arrest of Zhang Youxia wasn’t just a purge — it shattered the PLA’s command structure. In this video, I explain why taking down China’s top active-duty general risks pushing the military toward fragmentation and modern warlordism, not greater control. I break down the historical parallels with Lin Biao and the Cultural Revolution, why the Central Military Commission is now effectively paralyzed, and why this makes a Taiwan war far less likely — while increasing internal instability.

Ken Cao-The China Crash Chronicle

68,550 views • 6 months ago

🚨🇨🇳 INTERVIEW: CHINA’S GENERALS ARE VANISHING - THE XI JINPING PURGE CONTINUES China’s top military leaders keep disappearing. The defense minister. The rocket force command. The people who control China’s nukes. Gone. David Zhang says this isn’t about corruption; it’s about control. The Chinese President is purging his own inner circle, terrified of betrayal inside the ranks. Generals are being fired, detained, or silenced with no explanation. What’s going on inside the world’s second-largest military and economy? We discuss: •⁠ ⁠Why Xi no longer trusts the generals guarding China’s nuclear weapons •⁠ ⁠⁠How secret arrests and purges are destabilizing the entire chain of command •⁠ ⁠⁠Whether this paranoia could push Xi toward a war with Taiwan •⁠ ⁠⁠Why his inner circle looks more like a revolving door than a government •⁠ ⁠⁠And what these disappearances reveal about the true state of China’s regime David says the façade of control is cracking. And when authoritarian leaders start turning on their own, it never ends quietly. 01:52 – Winnie the Pooh character banned after Xi Jinping memes? 04:05 – Xi Jinping's father survived Cultural Revolution purges 08:16 – Anti-corruption purge started consolidating total power in 2013 11:48 – Xi made enemies everywhere but removed their positions 13:34 – Li Keqiang's suspicious heart attack breaks party rules 17:31 – Political commissars control military alongside commanders for loyalty 20:10 – Zhang Youxia refuses to look at Xi on camera 22:09 – Nine generals purged including Taiwan invasion commander 26:42 – Theory: Xi attempted coup after losing military control 31:30 – Purged generals possibly dead, no confirmation they're alive 35:15 – Credible sources say Xi already stepped down privately 39:28 – Hu Jintao escorted out after discovering his allies purged 50:55 – Fujian carrier launch suspiciously small-scale and downplayed 54:38 – 2027 Taiwan invasion less likely amid power struggles 59:01 – Project 981: Keep leaders alive till 150 through organs 01:05:30 – 30-40% of Chinese know about the Tiananmen Square massacre 01:18:05 – Bridge built last year already collapsed in China

🚨🇨🇳 INTERVIEW: CHINA’S GENERALS ARE VANISHING - THE XI JINPING PURGE CONTINUES China’s top military leaders keep disappearing. The defense minister. The rocket force command. The people who control China’s nukes. Gone. David Zhang says this isn’t about corruption; it’s about control. The Chinese President is purging his own inner circle, terrified of betrayal inside the ranks. Generals are being fired, detained, or silenced with no explanation. What’s going on inside the world’s second-largest military and economy? We discuss: •⁠ ⁠Why Xi no longer trusts the generals guarding China’s nuclear weapons •⁠ ⁠⁠How secret arrests and purges are destabilizing the entire chain of command •⁠ ⁠⁠Whether this paranoia could push Xi toward a war with Taiwan •⁠ ⁠⁠Why his inner circle looks more like a revolving door than a government •⁠ ⁠⁠And what these disappearances reveal about the true state of China’s regime David says the façade of control is cracking. And when authoritarian leaders start turning on their own, it never ends quietly. 01:52 – Winnie the Pooh character banned after Xi Jinping memes? 04:05 – Xi Jinping's father survived Cultural Revolution purges 08:16 – Anti-corruption purge started consolidating total power in 2013 11:48 – Xi made enemies everywhere but removed their positions 13:34 – Li Keqiang's suspicious heart attack breaks party rules 17:31 – Political commissars control military alongside commanders for loyalty 20:10 – Zhang Youxia refuses to look at Xi on camera 22:09 – Nine generals purged including Taiwan invasion commander 26:42 – Theory: Xi attempted coup after losing military control 31:30 – Purged generals possibly dead, no confirmation they're alive 35:15 – Credible sources say Xi already stepped down privately 39:28 – Hu Jintao escorted out after discovering his allies purged 50:55 – Fujian carrier launch suspiciously small-scale and downplayed 54:38 – 2027 Taiwan invasion less likely amid power struggles 59:01 – Project 981: Keep leaders alive till 150 through organs 01:05:30 – 30-40% of Chinese know about the Tiananmen Square massacre 01:18:05 – Bridge built last year already collapsed in China

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2,562,782 views • 8 months ago

Xi Jinping’s sweeping purges inside China’s military are accelerating. Top generals are disappearing, corruption probes are spreading, and loyalty to Xi now matters more than battlefield readiness. But these purges could weaken the very military Xi wants ready for conflict. What’s really happening inside the Chinese Communist Party—and why is the PLA leadership suddenly vanishing?

Xi Jinping’s sweeping purges inside China’s military are accelerating. Top generals are disappearing, corruption probes are spreading, and loyalty to Xi now matters more than battlefield readiness. But these purges could weaken the very military Xi wants ready for conflict. What’s really happening inside the Chinese Communist Party—and why is the PLA leadership suddenly vanishing?

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🚨🇨🇳 INTERVIEW: “XI HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE MILITARY - POWER IS SHIFTING TO ZHANG YOUXIA” “The military commander would still have the final say, but in a regular sort of setting, usually the political commissar is the one that's more in control. The PLA is not the Chinese military, it is the People's Liberation Army, which is the CCP's military. My current belief is that Xi Jinping's situation is that he has lost the control of the military and that people who are against Xi are clawing back power through Zhang Youxia.”

🚨🇨🇳 INTERVIEW: “XI HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE MILITARY - POWER IS SHIFTING TO ZHANG YOUXIA” “The military commander would still have the final say, but in a regular sort of setting, usually the political commissar is the one that's more in control. The PLA is not the Chinese military, it is the People's Liberation Army, which is the CCP's military. My current belief is that Xi Jinping's situation is that he has lost the control of the military and that people who are against Xi are clawing back power through Zhang Youxia.”

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414,959 views • 8 months ago

How Xi's Cultural Revolution 2.0 is Collapsing the Chinese Military. Xi Jinping is purging his own generals—again. What’s really going on inside China’s military? In this video, I break down why Xi’s military purge has reached terrifying new levels after he secured his third term. From mysterious disappearances and suicides to eerie parallels with Stalin’s Great Purge and Mao’s Cultural Revolution, this is a full-blown political survival strategy.

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This Is Worse Than Stalin: Xi’s Self-Inflicted Military Collapse. Why Xi Is Purging His Own Generals — And What It Means for Taiwan. Xi Jinping personally built the Central Military Commission in 2022. Just three years later, it has collapsed. In this video, I explain why Xi is purging the very generals he hand-picked — and why this is not preparation for war against Taiwan, but preparation for his own political survival. Using hard numbers and historical comparisons to Stalin’s Great Purge, I show how fear has replaced initiative inside the PLA — turning it into a hollow force that looks strong on parade but cannot fight a real war.

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226,649 views • 6 months ago

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un have arrived for one of China’s biggest military parades ever. With over 10,000 troops and hundreds of advanced weapons, the parade highlights China’s growing military power under Xi’s modernization push. This marks the first time the trio has ever been seen together.

Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un have arrived for one of China’s biggest military parades ever. With over 10,000 troops and hundreds of advanced weapons, the parade highlights China’s growing military power under Xi’s modernization push. This marks the first time the trio has ever been seen together.

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209,087 views • 11 months ago

“Even if you follow Xi Jinping, you still will be purged. So the hidden rule is broken. I think that will be the end of the whole system,” says China analyst Heng He. With the recent purges of two top military generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, five of the seven members of China’s Central Military Commission have effectively been purged or removed. Only two remain, one of which is Xi Jinping himself. Zhang Youxia is known to have been a longtime ally of Xi Jinping, but was purged nonetheless. The CCP, like a mafia, is governed by unwritten rules. Now, Xi Jinping has broken all the CCP’s hidden rules, He says. “Now nobody knows whom to trust,” and that’s a big problem for the CCP. Xi has essentially purged the two remaining generals with actual battlefield experience. The Chinese military, Heng explains, is different from armed forces in the rest of the world. It’s ruled by the Chinese Communist Party and its primary function has been to protect the Communist Party—not to fight wars overseas. The CCP’s leaders, he explains, depend on the protection of the military, but at the same time they do not trust the military: “They are afraid that they will turn the gun to the wrong side.” But, in order to conquer Taiwan which, Heng tells me, is Xi’s lifelong dream, the generals must be put in full control: “Xi Jinping cannot fight himself, right? He has to give the command to the military leaders. That means the military has the power to turn the gun backwards.” With the removal of General Zhang Youxia—who appears to have opposed Xi Jinping’s views on an invasion of Taiwan—Xi removed an obstacle - but at what price? “The chain of command in the military is totally broken…This never happened in the history of communist rule,” he said.

“Even if you follow Xi Jinping, you still will be purged. So the hidden rule is broken. I think that will be the end of the whole system,” says China analyst Heng He. With the recent purges of two top military generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, five of the seven members of China’s Central Military Commission have effectively been purged or removed. Only two remain, one of which is Xi Jinping himself. Zhang Youxia is known to have been a longtime ally of Xi Jinping, but was purged nonetheless. The CCP, like a mafia, is governed by unwritten rules. Now, Xi Jinping has broken all the CCP’s hidden rules, He says. “Now nobody knows whom to trust,” and that’s a big problem for the CCP. Xi has essentially purged the two remaining generals with actual battlefield experience. The Chinese military, Heng explains, is different from armed forces in the rest of the world. It’s ruled by the Chinese Communist Party and its primary function has been to protect the Communist Party—not to fight wars overseas. The CCP’s leaders, he explains, depend on the protection of the military, but at the same time they do not trust the military: “They are afraid that they will turn the gun to the wrong side.” But, in order to conquer Taiwan which, Heng tells me, is Xi’s lifelong dream, the generals must be put in full control: “Xi Jinping cannot fight himself, right? He has to give the command to the military leaders. That means the military has the power to turn the gun backwards.” With the removal of General Zhang Youxia—who appears to have opposed Xi Jinping’s views on an invasion of Taiwan—Xi removed an obstacle - but at what price? “The chain of command in the military is totally broken…This never happened in the history of communist rule,” he said.

Jan Jekielek

47,415 views • 6 months ago

🇷🇺🇨🇳 CHINA’S TROOPS MARCH IN MOSCOW For the first time in years, China’s People’s Liberation Army joined Russia’s Victory Day parade on Red Square. Xi Jinping looked on as Chinese soldiers marched alongside Russian forces in a carefully choreographed display of unity. The Chinese contingent is the largest among all foreign military units participating in the parade. Source: Sputnik

🇷🇺🇨🇳 CHINA’S TROOPS MARCH IN MOSCOW For the first time in years, China’s People’s Liberation Army joined Russia’s Victory Day parade on Red Square. Xi Jinping looked on as Chinese soldiers marched alongside Russian forces in a carefully choreographed display of unity. The Chinese contingent is the largest among all foreign military units participating in the parade. Source: Sputnik

Mario Nawfal

421,159 views • 1 year ago

$2026.1.25 Xi Jinping moved against his closest ally, detaining Gen. Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and PLA chief Liu Zhenli. Zhang was the keystone of Xi’s control over the military, bound by decades of personal and generational loyalty. The fallout is seismic. Beneath official “corruption” claims lies something far more significant: betrayal. Elite cohesion is fracturing, and panic and paranoia are spreading quickly through command chains as Xi shifts from governing to pure regime survival, deploying his personal security apparatus across multiple military regions.$

2026.1.25 Xi Jinping moved against his closest ally, detaining Gen. Zhang Youxia, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and PLA chief Liu Zhenli. Zhang was the keystone of Xi’s control over the military, bound by decades of personal and generational loyalty. The fallout is seismic. Beneath official “corruption” claims lies something far more significant: betrayal. Elite cohesion is fracturing, and panic and paranoia are spreading quickly through command chains as Xi shifts from governing to pure regime survival, deploying his personal security apparatus across multiple military regions.

NFSC Speaks

33,851 views • 6 months ago

Last weekend, Chinese leader Xi Jinping shocked the world by ousting his top military general. What does this mean for the country's military preparedness and for the future of Taiwan? I asked a former senior CIA analyst & the CEO of China Strategies Group, Christopher Johnson:

Last weekend, Chinese leader Xi Jinping shocked the world by ousting his top military general. What does this mean for the country's military preparedness and for the future of Taiwan? I asked a former senior CIA analyst & the CEO of China Strategies Group, Christopher Johnson:

Fareed Zakaria

109,759 views • 6 months ago

Xi Jinping just put China’s military through a massive purge. This kind of purge never even happened under Mao Zedong. “The chain of command of the military has been broken.” Most people in the West have no idea how big of a deal this is. Heng He told me Xi’s recent purges have crippled China’s armed forces and left them unable to operate effectively. “The Chinese military is different from the rest of the world.” “They belong to the Party, not to the people or the state.” “The military is designed to protect the CCP’s rule… not to fight overseas wars.” “Xi Jinping cannot fight himself… he has to give command to the military leaders.” “The military has the power to turn the gun backwards.” “Everybody is afraid of their position and their safety even in the military.” “That's never happened before.” “Even during the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong didn't really purge the high-ranking officials in the military.”

Xi Jinping just put China’s military through a massive purge. This kind of purge never even happened under Mao Zedong. “The chain of command of the military has been broken.” Most people in the West have no idea how big of a deal this is. Heng He told me Xi’s recent purges have crippled China’s armed forces and left them unable to operate effectively. “The Chinese military is different from the rest of the world.” “They belong to the Party, not to the people or the state.” “The military is designed to protect the CCP’s rule… not to fight overseas wars.” “Xi Jinping cannot fight himself… he has to give command to the military leaders.” “The military has the power to turn the gun backwards.” “Everybody is afraid of their position and their safety even in the military.” “That's never happened before.” “Even during the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong didn't really purge the high-ranking officials in the military.”

Jan Jekielek

18,164 views • 5 months ago

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), on Monday presented certificates of order to promote two military officers to the rank of general. The promoted officers are Yang Zhibin, commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Han Shengyan, commander of the PLA Central Theater Command. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the CMC, announced the orders of promotion, which were signed by Xi, at a ceremony held for the promotion in Beijing. Zhang Shengmin, vice chairman of the CMC, presided over the ceremony. Xi extended his congratulations to the two generals. General is the highest rank for officers in active service in China.

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), on Monday presented certificates of order to promote two military officers to the rank of general. The promoted officers are Yang Zhibin, commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and Han Shengyan, commander of the PLA Central Theater Command. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the CMC, announced the orders of promotion, which were signed by Xi, at a ceremony held for the promotion in Beijing. Zhang Shengmin, vice chairman of the CMC, presided over the ceremony. Xi extended his congratulations to the two generals. General is the highest rank for officers in active service in China.

China Perspective

271,713 views • 7 months ago

China’s Xi Jinping is visiting North Korea for the first time in seven years. Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu explains what Beijing gets out of its relationship with Pyongyang, which is often perceived as lopsided.

China’s Xi Jinping is visiting North Korea for the first time in seven years. Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu explains what Beijing gets out of its relationship with Pyongyang, which is often perceived as lopsided.

Al Jazeera English

31,575 views • 1 month ago