Xi’s ‘Nerve Center’ Purged? Bodyguards Replaced? 82nd Army Gunfights with Special Ops?

Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping are both second-generation Reds and have long had a family friendship. Zhang Youxia's father, Zhang Zongxin, and Xi Jinping's father, Xi Zhongxin, shared a deep camaraderie during their time in the Northwest Field Army. However, today, the relationship between Zhang Youxia and Xi Jinping appears to have reached an irreconcilable point. After the 20th Party Congress, Xi Jinping launched a sweeping purge within the military, removing Zhang Youxia's close allies such as Li Shangfu, along with numerous commanders from the Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force. At that time, Zhang was said to be walking on thin ice, and observers predicted he could be the next target. Yet after last year's Third Plenum, the situation suddenly shifted. Rumors circulated that Xi Jinping suffered a stroke during the meeting, triggering a change in the balance of power, With the backing of party elders and fellow second-generation Reds, Zhang Youxia allegedly took control of the military and began purging members of Xi's faction. Now, as the Beidaihe Conference unfolds, the power struggle has reached a breathless climax. A series of unusual events has kept Zhang Youxia's name in the public mind. Could he be the main player in Beijing's current political chess game? How will the drama at Zhongnanhai play out? And what role will Zhang Youxia ultimately take? Stay tuned for today's program to find out. Unusual Movement of Military Police and Ambulances in Beijing China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported that from the evening of August 9th to the early morning of August 10th, the Tiananmen area held its first large-scale integrated rehearsal for the September 3rd military parade, with roughly 22,000 participants. Roads around Tiananmen Square were sealed off, and central streets became restricted zones where neither people nor vehicles could enter. At the same time, netizens captured footage on the afternoon of August 9th showing a large number of ambulances heading toward Tiananmen Square. This sparked questions. If it was merely a rehearsal for the September 3rd parade, why would the authorities deploy so many ambulances? Had something more serious happened? U.S.-based political commentator Chen Pokhom noted several suspicious points about the exercise. First, with nearly a month still to go before the September 3rd parade, the timing seemed unusually early. Second, holding the rehearsal on a weekend caused serious inconvenience to the public. Third, since the Beidaihe Conference, a gathering of retired senior leaders, is currently underway, the choice to hold the exercise now was odd. It could have been postponed until the conference concluded. Meanwhile, an alternative version of events has been circulating online that clashes broke out between the military and police. Specifically, the 82nd Group Army, deployed by Zhang Youxia, reportedly exchanged gunfire with Xi Jinping's Special Operations Bureau. The army allegedly overpowered the bureau, leading to the arrival of numerous ambulances. Another version claims that Zhang Youxia's 82nd Group Army was ordered to enter Beijing to arrest a minister or high-ranking figure, but Xi's side intervened, resulting in a standoff. Commentator Li Muyang said, citing information from a friend in Beijing, that not only were several subway stations bypassed, but many bus routes were diverted and skipped stops. Some work units even gave employees four days off. In Tianjin, the school year will reportedly begin on September 4th, possibly also related to the parade. Regarding this year's September 3rd military parade, opinions vary. Some believe Xi Jinping will preside over the review. Others say he will only host the ceremony while Zhang Youxia takes the reviewing stand. Independent commentator Du Zheng argued that the parade is essentially a show for external audiences and does not necessarily mean Xi Jinping is reviewing troops to demonstrate his control over the military. Successor to Qin Gang, Liu Jianchao rested. As senior leaders and party elders gather behind closed doors in Beidaihe, the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell on August 10, 2025, in late July, immediately after returning to Beijing from visits to Singapore, South Africa, and Algeria. Liu Jianchao, minister of the CCP's International Liaison Department, was reportedly taken in for questioning by Chinese authorities. The reasons remain unclear. If confirmed, Liu would be the highest-ranking diplomat investigated since former foreign minister Qin Gang's removal in 2023. Rumors had already circulated on Chinese social media since August 8, alleging that Liu was under investigation for leaking secrets and helping tycoons move assets overseas. A close Xi Jinping protege elevated directly by him, Liu was considered the leading candidate to replace Qin Gang. He also played a key role in Xi's Operation Fox Hunt, targeting dissidents and democracy activists abroad. On August 11, veteran Japanese journalist Yeda Akio wrote on X that domestic rumors pointed to leaks and corruption, but he believes the real cause is likely high-level factional infighting. Liu, he noted, had long served in less lucrative posts, making large-scale corruption unlikely, and as a minister with strong prospects, he had little motive to leak secrets. The most plausible explanation, Yeda argued, is political elimination by rivals. He stressed that China's defense and foreign ministries are the government's two most critical departments, and repeated purges there signal instability at the very core of power. That the top contender for foreign minister is under investigation, regardless of faction, suggests Beidaihe is anything but calm. The struggle over Xi Jinping's future, whether he stays or steps down at the fourth plenum and the lineup for the next leadership term, may now be entering its most intense phase. Jiang Yuxi moves, rumors of Xi's bodyguards replaced. Current affairs commentator Xiao Shujia revealed on his independent media channel that there are rumors Xi Jinping's entire bodyguard team has been completely replaced. He explained that bodyguards are the last line of defense. Their duties go far beyond preventing assassination and unexpected incidents. They strictly control outside contact, ensure the leader's travel safety, and respond instantly to political crises. If this force is replaced, especially in its entirety, it points to three possible scenarios. One, the leader has lost trust in the current team, fearing betrayal or loss of control. Two, outside forces have seized command of the security apparatus. Three, in high-level factional struggles, this force has become a priority target for takeover. Xi Jinping is an absolute power leader. His bodyguards are of extreme importance to him, Xiao Shujia stressed. If they are no longer loyal, his safety and freedom of action will be constrained by others. According to him, if the rumor is true, this is not a mere personnel shuffle, but a highly political maneuver, a carefully planned prelude to a coup. He noted that in CCP history, replacing bodyguards and detaining core advisors have been standard steps towards seizing supreme power. From the military's full-scale intervention, to the reorganization of the security system, to cutting off the core command of the leader's office, these links all point to one possibility. Zhang Youxia has made his move, he concluded. Han Ximing arrested? Xi's nerve center severed? Another rumor shaking Zhongnanhai claims that Han Ximing, General Secretary and Director of the Presidential Office, has been arrested. Public records show Han, born in 1971 in Zhejiang, once worked in the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee office when Xi Jinping was serving in leadership positions there. Around the time of last year's 20th Central Committee's third plenum, Han accompanied Xi on various diplomatic activities, drawing attention. On July 8th last year, when Xi met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, CCTV footage showed Han's nameplate reading Han Ximing, with his title translated in Chinese as Director of the Presidential Office. Han's responsibilities include managing Xi's schedule and meetings, handling documents reaching the General Secretary's desk, coordinating with agencies such as the Central Guard Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Central Military Commission Office, as well as overseeing the transmission of classified internal information. Commentator Xiao Shuoja observed, If Han Ximing has been arrested, it means Xi Jinping's nerve center has been severed. The flow of documents outward, internal verbal instructions, and even his private meetings could all be monitored and completely intercepted. From a political power perspective, this is equivalent to cutting off the signal, leaving the leader unable to issue timely commands or communicate with the outside world. Even if Xi remained seated in his Zhongnanhai office, others would be filtering and deciding what reaches the outside on his behalf. At present, the authenticity of this and related rumors has not been verified. However, Xiao Shuoja contends, If the reports are true, the person behind it is most likely Jiang Yuxia. The countdown to toppling Xi Jinping has entered its final stage. Replacing the bodyguards removes his last physical line of defense, and arresting Han Ximing severs his central nervous system. Those who underestimated Jiang Yuxia are being proven wrong. Jiang Yuxia is not the typical politician general. He comes from a regular army background, once leading troops into battle as a company commander, known for his decisiveness and hardline tactics. Last year, he oversaw the arrests of key military figures such as Miao Hua and He Weidong, Xi Jinping's trusted allies in the armed forces. Even though Xi openly opposed these moves, Jiang went ahead without hesitation. According to insiders, since last year's third plenum, many senior officers from the Eastern Theater Command, the 31st Group Army, and other units loyal to Xi have been successively purged. Rumors once painted Jiang as soft, but his actions have proven otherwise. He understands that real military power lies with the Beijing garrison under the Central Military Commission, not with the Ministry of Public Security or the Special Operations Bureau. In other words, he holds de facto control over the capital's core defenses. Former Navy Lieutenant Colonel Yao Cheng revealed that in early July, tanks and armored vehicles, a rare sight in peacetime, were seen passing through Tiananmen Square, a clear signal to the outside world. At the same time, the 81st Group Army, traditionally responsible for the capital's security, was completely redeployed, with the 82nd Group Army taking over Beijing's defense. The 82nd's heavy brigade moved into Changping while its 196th Brigade stationed in Fentai, creating a north-south defense axis. Other units were deployed to Gaobei Dian, Shijiazhuang, and Handan, forming multiple layers of encirclement around Beijing, an unusually large-scale troop movement for peacetime. Most notable was the deployment of the 82nd Group Army's Special Operations Brigade, codenamed Arrow Call, to Beidai. Originally part of the Beijing military region, this elite unit is considered China's top special forces, often tasked with high-difficulty missions such as counterterrorism, special operations, and VIP protection. With a force of 5,000 to 6,000, its combat capability far surpasses that of regular armed police or riot control units. In the past, summer security at Beidaihe was jointly handled by the Central Guard Bureau and the Ministry of Public Security. Now, Arrow Call has completely taken over, even reclaiming control of Shanhaiguan Airport. This means that in the event of political upheaval during the Beidai Conference, the military would have direct control over both ground and airspace. From these coordinated moves in Beijing and Beidai, the military's stance is clear. Who becomes general secretary or premier may be decided in the Politburo, but the chairman of the Central Military Commission must have the army's genuine approval. After a decade of highly centralized rule, the military clearly no longer wishes to tolerate another Xi Jinping sitting over its head. For now, both sides have reached a temporary consensus. Ensure the September 3rd military parade goes smoothly, not only as a showcase of national prestige, but as the army's honor. However, once the parade ends, the power struggle could immediately enter its final stage. According to commentator Du Zheng, if Xi performs poorly, he may be forced to resign. If he resists, he could face arrest or worse. Whether in the international community, among party elders, or within the military's upper ranks, tolerance for him has now dropped to freezing point. And what about you? What's your view on this power struggle? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you.