Some analysts say the purge suggests that political infighting within the communist regime has intensified.
News Analysis
Weidong, the third third commander of the Communist People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and several other military leaders, reportedly were arrested amid the continued military cleanup of the Chinese regime, potentially described by one Chinese expert as one of the “most dangerous developments in the world today.”
It is unclear whether Prime Minister Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), or his political enemy, was behind the charges of Fujian clique, one of two groups considered as Xi’s ally. The possibility of the second scenario raised concerns that XI could become more aggressive internationally if he believes he is on the verge of losing power.
He is the second vice-president of the CCP’s Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the party’s Political Bureau, and has not been seen publicly since March 11 when he attended the closing session of the National People’s Assembly (NPC) this year, the Rubber Stamp Congress of the Chinese administration, and the power bodies of the Supreme State.
For two weeks, he and Zhang Youxia, the vice-president of the CMC’s first rank, were absent from the seminar that marked the enactment of the CCP’s anti-session law 20 years ago. The law targets so-called Taiwanese separatists. They were not seen on the Xi side when they visited Yunnan Province in the southwestern part of China. Their absence was considered an extraordinary as such events had previously been attended by at least one of the two CMC vice-chairmen.
Zhao Lanjian, a former Chinese investigative journalist who is now based in the US, recently confirmed with him that at least three sources were taken into custody on March 11th.
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Zhao Lanjian cited one of the sources and said that the CMC is reviewing CMC’s speeches as CMC Vice President, along with documents, photos and videos in which he is involved, to remove his influence.
More rumored arrests, absent
In addition to him, several other commanders of the Fujian faction were also said to have been placed during the investigation, according to Zhao Lanjian and Cai.
Zhao Lanjian said he was the secretary and was investigated probably due to information leaks. Zhao Lanjian also said those arrested include Zhao Keshi, the general logistics director of the PLA, and other military commanders in Fujian, whom Xi spent 17 years before he came to power.
On March 25, Kai said Lin Xiangyang, commander of the Eastern Theatre Command, was arrested on March 24 for leaking the “so-called Taiwan Strait Combat Plan.” It is unknown who the information is said to have been leaked.
Meanwhile, the absence of Defense Minister Dong Jun from the State Council’s Plenary Session earlier this month also raised some eyebrows.
So far, Beijing has not commented on the reported arrests and has not provided an explanation of Dong’s absence.
“Unprecedented” inscription
Since XI gained power in 2012, CCP leaders have surpassed the anti-corruption campaign. By 2022, nearly five million officials had been investigated and found guilty, according to a recent uncategorized document issued by the US Director of National Intelligence.
However, the campaign “reflects more of the targeting of political undiscipline and ideological impurities, particularly at the highest levels of government, in order to maintain party-oriented securitization or domestic control and legitimacy of CCPs,” the report states.
XI’s policies, particularly his anti-corruption campaign and centralisation of power, have created enemies within the regime, including party elders, so-called CCP Printhiaring, and top brass of the PLA.
Over the past two years, many senior CCP staff and PLA commanders have fired or suspended an unexplained loss disappearance.
Some analysts say Zhang, a Shaanxi gang native of another faction that was considered an ally of Xi, may have been behind the recent purge that targeted the Fujian faction.
Political commentator and Chinese expert Gordon Chang said the rumored arrest of him and Zhao Keshi “can be the most dangerous development in the world today.”
“The XI under siege was able to decide to assault him.”
In an interview with the Epoch Times, Zhao Lanjian said the latest developments suggest that the CCP’s internal struggle has reached “unprecedented” levels.
He said either Xi “completely abandoned” his old men, or “anti-XI troops within the army” are excluded from Xi people.
Zhao Lanjian said the instability within the PLA means that Taiwan’s invasion cannot be launched in the near future.
Shen Min Xi, a researcher at the Taiwan Institute of Defense and Security, told the director of the Institute’s National Security Research Division. The Epoch Times said that Chang’s power appears to be growing along with the reported downfall of Xi’s followers and the presence of Chang’s allies in key military positions.
Shen said that when Xi dodged anyone who wanted to drive him out, the military rule “has become important.”
Chi Yue-Yi, PLA expert at the National Defense Institute, said he believes Xi is still maintaining his strength.
There may be “different voices” in CCP and PLA Creek against XI, but “it doesn’t seem to be enough to form anti-Xi forces,” he told the Epoch Times.
Cai said in a live YouTube stream that if the Chinese leader’s position is under great threat, they can launch a war in the Taiwan Strait to change the status quo.
Luo Ya and Yi Ru contributed to this report.
