Xi Jinping on the way out?

Written on 20 October 2025.

Since at least the 3rd Plenum last year when rumors of Xi’s health problems had started taking off, the general consensus of many China watchers was that the party elders had grown tired of Xi’s continued adventurism in foreign affairs and attempts to consolidate his undisputed power over the CCP, and were trying to use his alleged ill-health to ease him out of power into an “honorable” retirement.

The person who had the most to lose in this coming confrontation, Zhang Youxia (one of the two vice chairmen of the CMC that actually controls China’s military), decided to strike first this past Friday when he essentially decapitated Xi’s control over the military by purging 9 generals that were Xi’s closest collaborators..

On October 17, 2025, just two days ahead of the Fourth Plenary Session, the Ministry of National Defence of the Communist Party of China made a surprising announcement that sent shockwaves through both domestic and international circles, delivering a powerful political message.

In the afternoon of the 17th, spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang officially reported that the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission had initiated an investigation into nine senior generals.

This news hit like a bombshell, instantly capturing the attention of the public both at home and abroad.

All nine generals are, without exception, core loyalists or trusted confidants of Xi Jinping within the military.

This indicates that Zhang Youxia has broken free from the usual party constraints and is directly targeting Xi Jinping's inner circle. All of these officials who have fallen from grace were trusted aides promoted by Xi Jinping from the 31st Army, and their downfall signifies a complete disintegration of Xi Jinping's control over military power. It somehow seems particular fitting that Zhang is using Xi’s old tactic of accusing those he wished to purge of corruption.

Irontortoise -- Daily Kos

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