Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

JEFF KING: Xi’s Dead Generals And China’s Hidden Civil War
Daily Caller News Foundation. ^ | June 19, 2025 | Jeff King

Posted on 06/19/2025 2:58:26 PM PDT by george76

Winston Churchill once described watching the inner workings of the USSR’s Marxists as “bulldogs fighting under a carpet.” You could hear the snarling and see the movement, but until the dogs emerged, no one knew what was really happening underneath. Today, there’s extraordinary commotion under China’s carpet, and mounting evidence suggests President Xi Jinping may have been overthrown in a silent coup.

The clues are becoming unmistakable: systematic purges of Xi loyalists throughout the military, rumors of suspicious deaths and “suicides” of senior generals who were once firmly in his camp. If true, they are clear signs of elite rebellion against his increasingly desperate rule. The same ruthlessness that Xi displayed when he publicly humiliated former leader Hu Jintao at the 2022 Party Congress may now be coming back to haunt him.

Xi‘s Military Fortress Crumbles..

Napoleon once observed that “an army marches on its stomach,” meaning soldiers fight best when they’re well-fed and secure. It’s a truth that Xi Jinping may be learning too late. As China’s economy starves, so does the loyalty of its military, the people and the Party.

China’s military, supposedly Xi’s most reliable power base, is in complete disarray. Since December 2023, over 15 senior People’s Liberation Army officers have been purged, including General He Weidong, Xi’s own deputy, who was ousted in 2025 for alleged corruption. Admiral Miao Hua, a trusted Fujian ally, followed the same path as former Defense Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, their personal loyalty proving no protection.

More ominously, unverified reports suggest He Weidong may have committed suicide, echoing the suspicious deaths of other high-ranking officials who fell from Xi’s grace. When military leaders start dying under mysterious circumstances, it signals something far more serious than routine anti-corruption campaigns.

But here’s what makes this purge different: it’s happening against the backdrop of economic collapse. With tax revenues plummeting and local governments drowning in $13 trillion of debt, even Xi’s military allies are questioning whether they’re backing a sinking ship. Leaders throughout the system face a stark choice: eliminate Xi before he eliminates them or watch him drag the entire Party down with his failures.

Economic Catastrophe Fuels Political Crisis

Xi’s domestic mismanagement has pushed the Chinese Communist Party to the edge of legitimacy. The real estate sector, once the engine of Chinese growth, has collapsed spectacularly, with construction starts plummeting 23.8% by May 2025, sparking worker unrest across the country. Meanwhile, the demographic time bomb created by the one-child policy continues ticking, burdening an aging population with unsustainable social costs.

His zero-COVID lockdowns triggered the rare public protests of 2022, while his aggressive trade policies backfired catastrophically, provoking punishing U.S. tariffs and driving allies like Vietnam to pivot toward Washington. Xi’s abrasive “wolf warrior” diplomacy has systematically alienated China’s traditional partners, while his attempts to weaponize rare earth minerals have only accelerated global efforts to find alternative suppliers.

With GDP growth collapsing and youth unemployment soaring, the Party’s core promise, delivering prosperity in exchange for political submission, is crumbling. Non-Xi factions within the CCP increasingly fear that economic pain could ignite mass revolt, threatening their own survival unless they act decisively to remove him.

Elite Rebellion Beneath The Surface

Though heavily veiled by the CCP’s penchant for secrecy, signs of elite dissent are emerging. Reports indicate that General Zhang Youxia and Party elders like Wen Jiabao have privately criticized Xi’s leadership, while academic Zhang Yingjie publicly called his system “hopeless,” a remarkably bold statement in today’s China.

The suppressed “Peng Lifa” protests of 2022, where citizens called for Xi’s removal, demonstrated that public frustration extends far beyond the Party elite. Xi’s systematic humiliation of rivals, epitomized by his treatment of Hu Jintao, has cornered potential allies who now face their own political extinction unless they fight back.

As Churchill’s bulldogs fight beneath the surface, China’s leaders may be quietly plotting Xi’s removal, driven by the existential fear of Party collapse. However, these moves must navigate Xi’s extensive surveillance apparatus, leaving the fundamental question shrouded in uncertainty.

The Secrecy Paradox

Xi’s obsession with controlling information creates its own leadership problem, in a system where information flows only upward and criticism is lethal, even Xi may not fully grasp the true extent of the rebellion brewing beneath him.

What Comes Next?

The evidence, military purges, economic crisis, elite dissent and public unrest paint a picture of a regime in profound crisis. Yet Xi’s ultimate fate remains hidden beneath China’s carpet of secrecy. Has he been overthrown in a silent coup, or is he desperately battling to crush his enemies before they can move against him?

The answer will become clear at the 2027 Party Congress, when China’s leadership succession becomes impossible to hide. Until then, the international community should maintain maximum pressure through targeted tariffs, human rights advocacy and support for democratic alternatives in the region.

Churchill’s bulldogs continue their hidden fight, and the world can only watch the movement beneath China’s carpet, waiting to see which dog emerges victorious, or whether they all perish in a revolt by the masses.


TOPICS: China; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War
KEYWORDS: 2022; 2025; china
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 06/19/2025 2:58:26 PM PDT by george76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: george76

Civil War in China is an endgame for the Deep State likely using Afghanistan which borders China.

Heck Pakistan borders China and Trump met its real ruler the Army Commander at the White House this week.

Another jihadist gig on behalf of the Uyghurs Turkish Muslims who live in Western China just like the Libya and Syria jihadist wars the Deep State backed.

And a great path to Afghanistan and Pakistan and Central Asia bordering Russia and China is through Iran.

Now you know why Lindsey Graham is buddies with Erdogan.


2 posted on 06/19/2025 3:03:00 PM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Bkmk


3 posted on 06/19/2025 3:05:07 PM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Reference to alienating China’s “ally” Vietnam is simply inaccurate.
They have fought wars with each other and are economic rivals.


4 posted on 06/19/2025 3:05:15 PM PDT by Williams (Thank God for the election of President Trump!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Tyrannical dictators always suffer from uncontrolled paranoia, and are frequently manipulated by their enemies into dispatching loyal allies for some manufactured reason. One of Russia’s biggest problems in WW2 was the watershed of all the Stalin purges of the military’s upper echelons. When their primary focus is on maintaining power and self-preservation, they frequently miss threatening signals given by foreign adversaries.


5 posted on 06/19/2025 3:16:20 PM PDT by Rlsau1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Its probably true that Xi spends 90% of his time dealing with domestic high-level politics, dealing with China’s vast bureaucracy, and focusing on domestic stability.

As such, I believe they are very cautious about war with Taiwan, without some very bright red lines being crossed, because of fear of unintended consequences and instability in the CCP


6 posted on 06/19/2025 3:20:22 PM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
It was all downhill for XI after David died.
7 posted on 06/19/2025 3:20:26 PM PDT by MurrietaMadman (The Gates of hell shall not prevail against you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

does this mean that China is now being ruled by the not-Xis?


8 posted on 06/19/2025 3:20:35 PM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Xi failed to get his puppet Tim Walz installed. Elections have consequences.


9 posted on 06/19/2025 3:29:09 PM PDT by captmar-vell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Williams

I saw that too. Vietnam has hated China for a thousand years.


10 posted on 06/19/2025 3:30:28 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: george76

So there’s a hidden civil war over Xi?

I guess we’re not the only country fighting over pronouns.


11 posted on 06/19/2025 3:40:06 PM PDT by x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Damn, somehow I missed the whole China/ bankrupt/ military coup thing over the past few weeks.


12 posted on 06/19/2025 3:50:41 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

I HIGHLY recommend The John Batchelor Show / Podcast.

No no, not because of Gordon Chang. Gregory Copley has been reporting on the downfall of Xi for months. I will never forget when Xi forced those Generals, and others, to pledge personal loyalty to Xi. No pledge to the Chicoms, no pledge to China, but personal loyalty pledge to Xi. If they did not pledge.......well......

Those that did pledge are now receiving some of the same ‘treatment’ as those who did not pledge.


13 posted on 06/19/2025 3:53:34 PM PDT by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try - AND - Every Time You Fall Down, Get The Frak Up! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Xi was a leader of the Maoist faction of the CCP.
Under his leadership, the country made one giant step backward. All the little freedoms people enjoyed before, were curtailed, the economy is also crumbling.
And, he refuses to step down. Several of his predecessors took two turns and stepped down, he changed that tradition.
I really do not know how much support he enjoys right now.


14 posted on 06/19/2025 3:53:54 PM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

“ Civil War in China is an endgame for the Deep State likely using Afghanistan which borders China.”

Notice how this “Next Rush” parasite is all in the Chicom side.


15 posted on 06/19/2025 3:56:29 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MurrietaMadman

Stop noticing!!!


16 posted on 06/19/2025 4:03:13 PM PDT by Captainpaintball (America needs a Conservative DICTATOR if it hopes to survive. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: chajin

“ does this mean that China is now being ruled by the not-Xis?”

Yes, but with Xi too.

Collective rule.

Guy named Zhang Youxia has the most authority (military).

Still not sure how it will shake out.

They’re not trying to get rid of or purge Xi necessarily.

Just make him realize he is one of many equals, like Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin were before him.

It’s a banana republic. The agreement of collective rule is Marxist to the core and mitigates the instability of constant power struggle.

So they can focus on their main goal staying in power at all costs.


17 posted on 06/19/2025 4:06:02 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: AZJeep

We are so lucky that Maoist idiot was in charge of China during the Biden years. From his Belt and Road to Covid to the real estate crisis, every move he made was bad for China. His only skill was whacking everybody who stood in his way of becoming Premier.


18 posted on 06/19/2025 4:10:54 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: HYPOCRACY

Xi is really trying to return to the Maoist era of Chinese history.
With identical results.
In some way, it may be better for us, if he stays as long as possible?!


19 posted on 06/19/2025 4:16:05 PM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: george76

BS.


20 posted on 06/19/2025 4:33:13 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (TDS much?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson