Following Beijing’s announcement of the detention of Zhang Youxia (张又侠), Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), sharply differing stories about the circumstances of his arrest have circulated online.
Version One: Chinese democracy activist Sheng Xue (盛雪) stated in a social media post—citing sources within China’s political system—that Zhang Youxia and CMC Joint Staff Chief Liu Zhenli were detained over an alleged “failed coup attempt” targeting Xi Jinping. According to her account, the two were planning to move against Xi on the night of January 18, believing he would be staying at Beijing’s Jingxi Hotel. The plan was reportedly exposed about two hours before it was to be executed. After receiving the warning, Xi quietly left the hotel and swiftly arranged countermeasures. Unaware that the plot had been compromised, Zhang’s side allegedly sent advance personnel to the hotel, where an armed confrontation reportedly broke out between the two sides, resulting in casualties. Sheng claimed that Xi then ordered the immediate detention of Zhang and Liu, along with their family members, and that official announcements were released only after the situation had been fully brought under control.
Version Two: Independent political commentator Cai Shenkun (蔡慎坤), who was one of the first people reported Zhang’s arrest, offered a markedly different interpretation, arguing that the detentions were not an emergency response but the culmination of a large-scale, long-planned purge at the highest levels of the CCP. Citing cross-verified information from multiple sources familiar with internal operations, Cai said the action was carefully orchestrated in advance and jointly led by the Central Guard Bureau, the Ministry of Public Security’s special operations units, and senior officials from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. He described the operation as a centrally coordinated “joint action,” rather than a move by any single agency. A defining feature was “neutralizing the perimeter before targeting the core,” in which Zhang’s security staff, aides, and secretaries were replaced ahead of time to sever his access to his power network and real-time information, leaving him no room to react. Cai added that the timing was well calculated and that the overriding objective was absolute security and success. The rapid spread of information, Cai concluded, suggests the operation was broad in scope, with multiple senior military officers reportedly being investigated simultaneously rather than through isolated, sequential actions.
Sources:
1. Epoch Times, January 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/24/n14683367.htm
2. Yahoo! (Taiwan), January 24, 2026
https://tw.news.yahoo.com/張又俠被抓非臨時決策-蔡慎坤揭內幕-中央警衛局主導-行動早已佈局-042953943.html