Zhang Youxia Injected to Death? Xi Purges 12 Years Back, Hundreds of Generals Vanish

Rumors that Zhang Yuxia has been sentenced to death have spread like an earthquake. But what lies beneath reveals an even more chilling picture. A sweeping purge is quietly crushing the Chinese military. Hundreds of officers have vanished, eleven generals have been singled out, and leading military scientists are being systematically erased from the system. This is no longer about anti-corruption. It's a restructuring of power through fear. Xi Jinping is staking everything on a single principle. Absolute loyalty. Yet the paradox is that many of those he personally elevated are now falling one after another. When a system begins to devour itself, when loyalty is forced to replace competence, the question is no longer who will fall next, but whether this power machine is moving toward tighter control or self-destruction. Let's break it down in today's program. Was Zhang Yuxia sentenced to death by lethal injection? On March 25th, an image circulated online claiming, allegedly citing Li Xi, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, that Zhang Yuxia had been sentenced to death and was about to be executed by lethal injection. The post stated that the Beijing Intermediate People's Court had, in a first-instance trial, found Zhang Yuxia and Zhang Yuzhuo guilty of bribery, sentencing them to death, stripping them of political rights for life, and confiscating all personal assets. It further claimed that, after approval by the Supreme People's Court of China, the two were confirmed to have abused their positions to accept more than 364 billion yuan, 50 billion USD, in bribes, and that the Beijing court had been ordered to carry out the execution by injection. According to commentator Li Muyong, this information is very likely false for three key reasons. First, Zhang Yuxia is a sitting vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. A case involving him would normally be handled by a military court or a special investigative body, making it highly unlikely that the Beijing Intermediate People's Court would have jurisdiction. Second, although there was an official notice on January 24th stating that he was under investigation, no formal charges have been publicly announced. This suggests the case is still in the investigative stage and has not yet gone to trial. Even if proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, the process could not have advanced so quickly to final approval by the Supreme Court. In practice, a death penalty case, from first trial to final review, cannot be completed within just two months, especially not for a case at the highest level of the Chinese political system. Third, the claim that the information came from Li Xi is itself implausible. If an execution by lethal injection were truly imminent, it would have to be announced through official state channels such as Xinhua News Agency, China Central Television, or the Ministry of National Defense. For a senior official like Li Xi to disclose it personally would constitute a serious breach of confidentiality rules. For these reasons, Li Mian concludes that the widely circulated screenshot is fake. Although its origin remains unclear, the spread of such rumors reflects a broader context. Xi Jinping may indeed intend to take a hard line against John Yuxia. After John Yuxia was officially reported to have fallen from power, the PLA Daily published an editorial listing seven major accusations against him, including severely undermining the responsibility system of the chairman of the Central Military Commission and threatening the party's governing foundation. The language used was notably harsher than in previous cases involving figures such as He Weidong or Miao Hua. Some outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, even reported that he had allegedly disclosed nuclear secrets to the United States, an act that would constitute treason under Chinese law and could carry the death penalty. The PLA Daily also invoked historical cases such as Liu Qingshan and Zhang Zishan, who were executed despite their past contributions, emphasizing that merit cannot outweigh crimes and that no one is exempt because of status. These signals point toward the possibility of severe punishment. However, as a state-level deputy official, any move to execute John Yuxia would require Xi Jinping to carefully weigh potential reactions within the military. According to a military source, the investigation has already triggered a carpet-style sweep within the armed forces, an almost extreme purge targeting those deemed insufficiently loyal. Xi Jinping's investigative orders are reportedly stringent, requiring a 12-year retrospective review going back to 2013, when John Yuxia began overseeing the General Equipment Department. All connections, direct or indirect, are being scrutinized. The purge starts from the year of each officer's promotion, cross-referenced with Zhang's network, and extends down to the battalion level. Any trace of a Zhang connection is not to be overlooked, and even strong professional competence offers no immunity. From 2013 until his downfall in January this year, the number of potentially implicated officers could reach into the hundreds. Another source claims that big data tools are being used for automated screening. Once an individual crosses a red threshold, they are immediately flagged. In just two months, hundreds of mid-ranking officers have reportedly disappeared. There are also rumors that the equipment and weapons development system has been a key focus of the investigation, with many generals already under scrutiny. This suggests that Xi Jinping's purge is highly comprehensive, driven by fears that Zhang Yuxia's faction could regroup and pose a threat. In an atmosphere of anxiety and insecurity, the campaign resembles a root-and-branch eradication aimed at eliminating future risks and consolidating control over the military. A military scholar observed that the logic of managing the armed forces has shifted, from prioritizing combat capability to demanding absolute loyalty. In other words, Xi Jinping would rather see the military temporarily weakened than tolerate officers whose loyalty is in question. As a result, we are likely to see vacancies created by the purge filled through Xi's direct appointments, replacing them with figures personally loyal to him. His control over the military will become even more absolute. As for combat effectiveness, it appears to be a secondary concern for now. With a large number of generals removed in such a sweeping manner, restoring military strength in the short term is nearly impossible. What Xi Jinping needs at this moment is loyalty. Nothing but loyalty. Another 11 generals fall, 10 academicians vanish. According to incomplete statistics, since the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, at least 10 academicians with military-industrial backgrounds have been removed from the websites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. These individuals were tied to key sectors, such as aerospace, radar, missiles, and the nuclear industry. Even senior leadership across the 10 major central state-owned defense conglomerates has reportedly been almost completely swept away. According to Daxijiu, a widely circulated screenshot also claims that another 11 generals have fallen. The list includes officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, among them five lieutenant generals and six major generals, most of whom are associated with the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission and equipment units within the Theater Commands. Rumors suggest these individuals were implicated by executives in military-industrial enterprises, tied to corruption in equipment procurement involving bribes worth millions. They have allegedly been detained, searched, and placed under investigation, turning the military equipment system into a primary target zone. The ongoing purges have reportedly left the military in a state of hesitation and paralysis, with officers reluctant to act, leading to stagnation. Within internal circles, some rumors claim that the anti-corruption campaign is merely a facade and that Xi Jinping himself is the biggest beneficiary of corruption. Legal scholar Yuan Hongbing argues that these purges revolve around a central political ambition to become a communist emperor wielding absolute power. According to this view, Xi demands total loyalty from the party, the military, and all 1.4 billion citizens. Yet this strategy may be turning into what some describe as his greatest unfinished project. Across officialdom, the military, and society, resentment is said to be growing. There are even internal whispers that Xi himself is the ultimate corrupt figure, not in the conventional financial sense, but in his pursuit of monopolizing power. During the era of crony capitalism under Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, corruption had become a normalized way of life among officials. Now, Xi's attempt to centralize and monopolize that power, excluding other interest groups, has led to direct conflicts of interest across the entire bureaucratic system. This, some argue, is why he must rely on continuous purges and an expanding control apparatus to maintain authority. There are even views suggesting he has lost the ability to judge people in a balanced way. The demand for absolute loyalty, in reality, may be an unattainable goal. As for corruption, it is seen by some as irreversible, permeating the entire Chinese military from top to bottom. Today, across the political system, the military, and society at large, dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping is said to be widespread. If China's political landscape in recent years were a film, its central plot could be summed up in one line— one man struggling to wear the crown, while others quietly work to topple the throne. Four Waves of Opposition to Xi Jinping According to analyst Du Zheng, Xi Jinping's standing has declined through four distinct waves, each stronger than the last. First Wave In 2017, at the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi was formally established as the party's core leader. In 2018, the constitution was amended to remove presidential term limits, signaling a shift toward long-term rule. This marked the peak of his power, but also the beginning of growing unease. The first wave of opposition came from the so-called princeling class The more Xi sought to become an emperor, the more some resisted becoming his subjects. Second Wave In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan intensified public dissatisfaction, especially amid accusations of early information suppression and the global spread of the virus. During this period, real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang openly criticized Xi A strikingly blunt and humiliating attack. He was later sentenced to 18 years in prison. Around the same time, legal scholar Xu Zhiyong published an open letter calling on Xi to step down, citing failures in handling issues such as the U.S., China trade war, Hong Kong, and the pandemic. He, too, was arrested. Xi's public image began to show cracks. Third Wave Discontent spread from elite circles to society at large. Over three years of pandemic control, the strict zero-COVID policy with sweeping lockdowns triggered humanitarian hardships. Some compared this period to the three years of famine under Mao Zedong. The tipping point came on October 13, 2022, when citizen Peng Zaizhou hung protest banners on Beijing's Sitong Bridge with slogans such as We want food, not tests. We want freedom, not lockdowns. We want dignity, not lies. No cultural revolution, yes to reform. And no strongman, we want votes. By late November 2022, the nationwide white paper protests erupted with chants like These rare, open acts of defiance marked a sharp collapse in Xi's image among the public. In early 2023 came a dramatic turning point. Without warning, authorities abruptly abandoned the zero-COVID policy, unleashing a massive wave of infections. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Crematoriums saw long lines, and many among the dead were elderly officials. Reports circulated that retired military leaders criticized Xi as having gone too far and lost control. Final Wave Even Xi's own allies have begun to fall. At the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, he secured a third term, seemingly reaching the height of his power. But this is where deeper problems emerged. Loyalists were elevated, yet their governance capacity often fell short, contributing to economic slowdown, public hardship, and inconsistent policies. The most serious blow came from within the military. Since 2023, intense infighting has led to the downfall of multiple senior officers personally promoted by Xi, including figures like Zhang Yuxia and He Weidong. Perhaps most strikingly, of the 79 full generals personally promoted by Xi, nearly half have already fallen. This suggests that the issue is not simply strong opposition forces, but that even his own chosen circle is unraveling. Taken together, these four waves trace a clear trajectory, from concentrated power, to eroding trust, to widespread backlash. On the surface, Xi's authority still appears formidable, but underneath, currents of instability are surging. Put bluntly, the greatest danger is not having too many enemies, but no longer knowing who is truly on your side. Given this situation, how long can Xi Jinping maintain stability? Feel free to share your thoughts below, and thanks for watching.