Li Jingyao, Vision Times
With the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fourth Plenary Session just days away, speculation over Xi Jinping’s hold on power has reached a fever pitch. Sources claim that former leader Hu Jintao, who’s seeking to preserve the Party’s stability, is quietly pushing for Xi to step down through legal channels. If true, this maneuver could jeopardize key military and political figures, particularly General Zhang Youxia, along with influential leaders Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua.
Recent leaks now allege that Zhang Youxia and Liu Yuan held a private meeting with Hu Jintao and former Premier Wen Jiabao, during which Zhang reportedly made five explosive statements that sent shockwaves through Beijing’s elite political circles.
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A top-secret meeting in Beijing
On Oct. 6, political commentator “Shan He Dong Fu” reported that Zhang Youxia and Liu Yuan had recently visited Hu and Wen. They were later joined by Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua to discuss Xi’s political future and potential contingency plans if Xi does not step down during the Fourth Plenum.
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The meeting, which was allegedly held in a “heavily-guarded compound in Beijing’s Western Hills,” lasted more than two hours. Insiders say Zhang delivered five direct warnings that openly challenged the Party’s internal balance of power.
1. ‘If Xi is not fully or cleanly retired at the Plenum, the consequences for Zhang Youxia will be obvious to the senior leadership.‘
Zhang reportedly cautioned that the military’s loyalty to the Party had its limits. “If the Fourth Plenum cannot follow rules, internal strain in the military will be enormous. You all know my burden. If chaos breaks out — the consequences, you should understand.”
His remarks implied that continued uncertainty could provoke unrest within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), potentially fracturing its chain of command and bringing about more internal struggles.
2: ‘If Xi does not step down, Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua will face grave personal danger — these are not mere warnings, but military signals.‘
Zhang warned that political allies of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, particularly Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua, could face “severe retaliation” if Xi clings to power. Insiders said Zhang framed his remarks not as political rhetoric but as a “military signal.”
3: ‘The Party’s struggle will surface — what was once hidden will be revealed, [and could] even escalate to armed conflict.‘
According to reports, Zhang warned Hu that internal Party tensions long suppressed under Xi may soon erupt into open conflict. “The Party’s struggle will surface,” he said. “What was once hidden will emerge, and even escalate to armed conflict.”
Liu Yuan added that the current political terrain was “more complex than ever” and hinted that military intervention might be necessary in order to enforce Xi’s removal at the Plenum.
4: ‘If Xi won’t relinquish power voluntarily, the elders must draw up contingency plans. If the situation spirals, I may lose control too; you must help devise backup measures.’
Here, Zhang appeared to plead for help from Party elders, suggesting that even his control over the situation could be slipping. Analysts interpret this as a warning of “potential chaos” if the leadership fails to manage Xi’s outing carefully and effectively.
5: ‘Once events are unleashed, they cannot be reined in — like a rock rolling down a mountain. We can guide only so far; but the outcome is uncertain.‘
Zhang reportedly concluded with a metaphor that underscored the “irreversibility of crisis” once it begins. His words suggested that even if a power transition is attempted, no faction could fully control its consequences.
Potential coup talks?
Observers believe Zhang’s warnings carry a clear message: if Xi refuses to yield, military unity could fracture, leading to internal confrontation. Some analysts have even described the remarks as a “thinly-veiled coup threat,” with Zhang hinting that he might use force if Party elders fail to act. “If Xi retains nominal titles but loses real authority,” one insider said, “the question becomes — who controls the narrative? Whoever does, controls the future.”
Hu Jintao, according to these reports, hopes to orchestrate a legal transfer of power to maintain Party legitimacy. But Zhang’s language raised an alarming question: What if Xi simply refuses? Would Zhang deploy troops to physically remove him from the Plenum floor?
Political commentator Tang Jingyuan cautioned that not all details in the leak may be accurate, but said the core warning is credible. “If Xi cannot be forced out, and then reasserts control, senior figures like Zhang, Wang, and Hu Chunhua may face existential danger.”
Tang suggested that lower-ranking generals caught between factions might see rebellion as their only survival strategy. “Those within the Xi–Zhang conflict may choose preventive rebellion rather than wait for elimination,” he said.
Hu Jintao’s legacy and the return of the elders
Commentator Guo Jun argued that while factional infighting has always defined CCP politics, the real breaking point may now be near. He noted that Hu Jintao still retains symbolic weight within the Party’s hierarchy. “In CCP theory, legitimacy in power transitions matters,” Guo said. “Hu Jintao is the only living former General Secretary with that legitimacy — and he could reemerge if the system faces collapse.”
Some rumors even suggest Xi has already lost real authority. Leaks claim that in late June, senior Party elders formed a “Central Decision and Coordination Committee” that effectively sidelined the Politburo Standing Committee, leaving Xi as a mere figurehead.
According to these reports, Wang Yang leads the new body, with Hu Chunhua acting as Premier. Xi retains his formal titles, but real power lies elsewhere.
However, Zhang Youxia allegedly opposed this arrangement, fearing that if Xi remains Chairman of the Central Military Commission, he could still leverage the military to stage a comeback. Reports even suggest that Zhang has mobilized elements of the 82nd Group Army toward Beijing, possibly as a show of strength, or as preparation for a final, more decisive move.
A high-stakes gamble
If the leaks are genuine, analysts believe Zhang Youxia may be gambling everything by wagering that a preemptive strike would give him a better chance of survival than waiting for Xi to retaliate. “Zhang might prefer action over inaction,” said one Beijing watcher. “He’s betting on a slim chance to survive rather than certain elimination.”
As the Fourth Plenary Session approaches, Beijing’s political atmosphere grows ever more volatile. Behind the closed doors of Zhongnanhai, the question is no longer just whether Xi will fall — but how far the Party will go to preserve itself.
