Power Struggle Exposed: Xi Jinping Survives Alleged Military Coup Bid in Beijing Purge
Published Date: 28th Jan, 2026
Fresh details continue to emerge about a purported high-level coup attempt against Chinese President Xi Jinping that was reportedly crushed in its final stages, triggering one of the most sweeping military leadership purges in modern Chinese history.
Hours from Execution: Plot Allegedly Foiled at Last Minute
Multiple overseas Chinese language outlets and military-focused accounts claim the plan targeted Xi during an evening meeting at the Jingxi State Guesthouse on January 18. Conspirators intended to place him under house arrest, with General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and General Liu Zhenli, PLA chief of the joint staff, named as the principal architects.
Sources assert Xi received urgent intelligence only two hours before the operation was set to launch. He departed the venue immediately, and when an armed team arrived, a brief but intense firefight broke out between the plotters and Xi's elite security detail. Several arrests followed on site.
Unprecedented Shakeup: Top Military Brass Vanished
China's defense ministry later confirmed that both Zhang and Liu are under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law, code for corruption combined with political disloyalty. The purge has left the Central Military Commission with only Xi and one remaining active-duty general, stripping the body of most uniformed leadership in a single stroke.
Additional reports indicate hundreds, possibly thousands, of officers, their deputies, and even family members have been detained in the ensuing crackdown. Some accounts allege the plotters were accused of sharing sensitive nuclear command information with foreign powers, though no official statement has substantiated that claim.
From Trusted Ally to Suspected Traitor
Zhang Youxia, long regarded as one of Xi's closest military confidants and linked through family ties to the revolutionary old guard, had been viewed as a moderating voice on aggressive Taiwan scenarios. His sudden fall has stunned observers who saw him as politically untouchable.
The removal of such senior figures raises questions about trust within the top command and potential hesitation over Xi's more hawkish military posture in recent years.
Official Silence vs Rumor Mill Frenzy
Beijing has offered only minimal public comment, sticking to standard language about anti-corruption discipline enforcement. State media has avoided any reference to coup allegations, violence, or internal strife, instead emphasizing Party unity and military modernization.
The lack of transparency has fueled an explosion of speculation across overseas Chinese communities, social media, and foreign intelligence circles. Analysts caution that unverified reports can proliferate during periods of elite tension in China's opaque system.
Strategic Consequences Loom Large
With the PLA's senior operational leadership decimated, concerns are mounting over command readiness, especially in sensitive theaters. The purge could delay or complicate preparations for major exercises or contingencies, while simultaneously consolidating Xi's personal control over the armed forces.
Whether this episode ultimately strengthens his position by eliminating perceived rivals or exposes underlying instability remains fiercely debated.
As more names surface in the widening investigation and military communications remain unusually restricted, the episode stands as potentially the gravest internal challenge to Xi's authority since he assumed paramount leadership. The coming weeks may reveal whether calm returns or if further tremors shake the foundations of power in Beijing.
Date: 28th Jan, 2026
