Key Points
- Elite Purge: General Zhang Youxia, the top-ranking uniformed officer, and General Liu Zhenli are under investigation for “serious discipline violations.”
- Security Lockdown: Reports of cleared highways, disabled navigation systems, and increased military convoys have emerged from Beijing and Tianjin.
- Leadership Crisis: The Central Military Commission (CMC) has been reduced to just two active members, Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin.
- Internal Accusations: State media has accused the ousted generals of “splitting the Central Military Commission” and “betraying the party’s trust.”
- Global Impact: Analysts suggest the instability could either delay or dangerously centralize decisions regarding a potential Taiwan invasion.
Reports of unusual military activity and heightened security measures have emerged from Beijing, the capital of China, and its surrounding areas over the past week. Based on intelligence inputs and videos circulating on Chinese social media, it is being claimed that military movements and vigilance have been suddenly increased, raising urgent questions about potential internal instability within China’s political and military leadership.
High-Level Readiness and Capital Lockdowns
According to reports, select units of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were placed on first-level combat readiness in late January 2026. This status, usually reserved for major external threats, appears to be directed inward as Beijing faces its most significant leadership churn in decades. While no official statement explains the mobilization, the visibility of the “Special Combat Brigade” and counter-terrorism squads in the capital suggests a regime in defensive posture.
Videos dated January 26 show heavy military convoys passing through the Wuqing district of Tianjin, approximately 40, 50 kilometers from Beijing. Residents have reported emergency traffic clearances on the Beijing-Harbin Expressway with electronic billboards ordering all civilian vehicles to exit immediately. Furthermore, unverified reports indicate partial closures of metro services and the sealing of military compounds to restrict the movement of senior officers.
The Fall of the “Old Guard”
The catalyst for this tension is an extensive purge campaign that reached its peak on January 24, 2026. China’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that General Zhang Youxia, the Vice Chairman of the CMC and a long-time ally of President Xi Jinping, has been detained. Alongside him, General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department, is also under investigation.
State-run editorials have used unusually harsh language, accusing the duo of “undermining the Chairman’s Responsibility System” and “splitting the commission.” This shift from standard “corruption” charges to “political betrayal” indicates a severe rift at the top of the CCP.
A “Brittle” Command Structure
With the removal of Zhang and Liu, the Central Military Commission, traditionally a seven-member body, has effectively collapsed to just two people: Xi Jinping and his anti-corruption enforcer, Zhang Shengmin. This leaves the world’s largest military without its most experienced operational commanders.
Analysts suggest that while this consolidates Xi’s absolute authority, it creates a “brittle” military structure. Mid-level officers may become paralyzed by fear, potentially slowing decision-making and eroding the PLA’s combat effectiveness. According to intelligence experts, the current atmosphere of distrust between the President and the military leadership could lead to further unpredictable movements as Xi seeks to “purify” the ranks ahead of his 2027 modernization goals.
Is a Coup Underway?
Currently, there are no verified signs of a successful coup or open conflict. President Xi reappeared on January 27 to meet with the Finnish Prime Minister, a move widely viewed as a choreographed signal of his continued grip on power. However, the PLA’s silence and the lack of collective loyalty statements following the arrests suggest that tensions remain high behind the scenes.
