Zhang Youxia’s Power May Expand, Former Aide Appointed as Deputy Commander of Armed Police Force

Recently, official information from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) indicated that the commander of the Beijing Garrison District, Fu Wenhua, has been transferred to the position of Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force and promoted to the rank of Major General. Fu Wenhua is a former subordinate of the Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia. Analysts believe that this personnel adjustment is seen as another signal of Zhang Youxia further consolidating his control over the military.

Public records show that Fu Wenhua was born in January 1965 and has served in the CCP’s 16th Group Army for a long time, holding positions such as Battalion Commander, Division Chief of Staff, Deputy Division Commander, and Regimental Commander. In 2011, he served as a Division Commander and in 2013, he became the Regimental Commander of a mechanized infantry brigade of the 16th Group Army. In 2016, Fu Wenhua succeeded Xu Qiling as the Chief of Staff of the former 54th Group Army, rising to the rank of Deputy Corps Commander.

In March 2017, Fu Wenhua was appointed Chief of Staff of the CCP’s 81st Group Army and was promoted to the rank of Major General in the same year. In April 2020, he became the commander of the Beijing Garrison District. Due to the Beijing Garrison District no longer using the “high-level” model, Fu Wenhua did not enjoy the benefits of a deputy theater-level rank, but held the standard rank of a Major General.

The Beijing Garrison District, as a provincial-level military region, is responsible for defending the capital. Traditionally, the Garrison District Commander and Political Commissar held deputy theater-level (deputy military region) ranks. However, this practice was broken at the end of 2019 when Major General Zhang Fandi took on the role of Political Commissar of the Beijing Garrison District, and was promoted from deputy corps to full corps rank.

The 16th Group Army, where Fu Wenhua served for a long time, was part of the former Shenyang Military Region, with its headquarters in Changchun, Jilin. From 2007 to 2012, Zhang Youxia served as the Commander of the Shenyang Military Region, and Fu Wenhua served under him, being considered one of Zhang’s former subordinates. After the 19th National Congress of the CCP, Zhang Youxia was promoted to Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. During this time, Fu Wenhua was appointed as the commander of the Beijing Garrison District in April 2020.

Fu Wenhua’s transfer to Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force comes at a time when the current Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force, General Wang Chunning’s whereabouts are unknown, leading to widespread speculation that he may have encountered a mishap.

Since November 2024, Wang Chunning has been absent from several important events, drawing attention from the public. On November 21, during a national video conference of the CCP’s public security organs, the position next to the Minister of Public Security, Wang Xiaohong, which was traditionally occupied by Wang Chunning, was taken by the Political Commissar of the People’s Armed Police Force, Zhang Hongbin. On December 23, Wang Chunning did not attend the promotion ceremony of newly appointed Army Political Commissar, Chen Hui, to the rank of General. In January 2025, during the CCP’s Central Political and Legal Work Conference held in Beijing, Wang Chunning was the only member of the Political and Legal Committee absent.

On December 2, 2024, veteran mainland media personnel Zhao Lanjian claimed on X platform that Wang Chunning had been “confirmed to be arrested,” emphasizing the reliability of this news.

Independent political commentator Cai Shenkun once stated that Wang Chunning had worked together with Miao Hua, a General Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission who was investigated at the end of November 2024, for many years. He pointed out that Miao Hua’s investigation meant that the Fujian faction in the CCP’s military, which Xi Jinping, the party leader, relied on, had suffered a heavy blow, and a large number of officers promoted by Miao Hua would be implicated.

At the age of 62, Wang Chunning had long served in the former Nanjing Military Region of the CCP, holding the position of Commander of the 12th Group Army. After the 19th National Congress of the CCP in 2012, he was transferred to become the Commander of the Beijing Garrison District, later appointed as the Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force in May 2020, and promoted to the rank of General at the end of the same year. Wang Chunning came from a military family background; his father, Wang Yongming, had served as the Deputy Political Commissar of the Nanjing Military Region.

Political analyst Chen Pokong, residing in the United States, told Epoch Times reporters that Fu Wenhua’s transfer path is similar to Wang Chunning’s, both moving from the Beijing Garrison District Commander to the People’s Armed Police Force. It is widely believed that this personnel change indicates the promotion of Zhang Youxia’s confidants.

He stated that Zhang Youxia’s position in the military can be compared to Ye Jianying in the past, with his network spanning across major military regions and services. Taking into account these factors, Fu Wenhua’s move from Garrison Commander to Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force is seen as paving the way for succeeding as the Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force and proof of Zhang Youxia further consolidating his control over the military.

Political commentator Tang Jingyuan, in an interview with Epoch Times reporters, expressed that Fu Wenhua’s sudden transfer to Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force and simultaneous promotion to Major General is quite unusual. He mentioned that Wang Chunning has always been seen as a confidant of Xi Jinping, while Fu Wenhua is a former subordinate of Zhang Youxia. During the period when Wang Chunning was highly suspected of encountering trouble, having Fu Wenhua take over the People’s Armed Police Force signifies a significant transfer of key military authority.

However, Tang Jingyuan also noted that although Fu Wenhua has been promoted to Major General and transferred to Deputy Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force, the Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force traditionally holds the rank of General. If Fu Wenhua ultimately assumes the position of Commander of the People’s Armed Police Force, he would still need to be promoted out of the standard procedure to the rank of General, which may not be achieved in the short term. Therefore, he believes that Fu Wenhua’s transfer and promotion appear more like an emergency transitional measure, reflecting a significant and intense power shift occurring within the top echelons of the CCP’s military.

On March 14, the CCP held a symposium in Beijing to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the so-called “Anti-Secession Law.” Official media reports and related news footage showed that the CCP’s military was represented by Liu Zhenli, a member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff Department. Former Commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the CCP’s military, and a key figure in CCP’s military affairs concerning Taiwan, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong did not appear, sparking outside attention.

Recently, Zhao Lanjian revealed on X platform that He Weidong had been taken away for investigation. Citing authoritative sources, Zhao Lanjian stated that after the meeting on March 11, He Weidong was taken away on the spot during his return to the building, and his residences in Beijing and Shanghai were searched, creating an atmosphere of extreme tension.

He Weidong had long been regarded as a crucial member of Xi Jinping’s core circle in the military, having served as the Commander of the Eastern Theater Command, responsible for Taiwan affairs and wielding significant influence within the Party and the military. This sudden incident may foreshadow further upheavals within the top ranks of the CCP’s military.

With Miao Hua suspended, the number of members of the CCP’s Central Military Commission has further decreased. Currently, the Commission consists of five individuals, including Chairman Xi Jinping, Vice Chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, and members Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin. Since 2017, the Commission has usually maintained a configuration of seven members; however, currently two positions are vacant, a situation that is quite rare. If He Weidong is in trouble, the number of members of the Commission will decrease further.

Chen Pokong commented that there are numerous rumors circulating domestically and internationally about whether He Weidong has been taken into custody, and awaiting an official response. He stated that if indeed He Weidong has encountered trouble, it would signify a significant decline in Xi Jinping’s influence within the military, with the position of Chairman of the Military Commission near becoming symbolic, and the likelihood of a significant transfer of military power substantially increasing.

Independent political commentator Xiangying, residing in the United States, told Epoch Times reporters that He Weidong’s “disappearance” marks a significant sign of Xi Jinping’s waning military power. He said that He Weidong has apparently encountered trouble, and the key lies in how the situation unfolds and how the various parties involved navigate through it.

Tang Jingyuan stated that whether He Weidong has been taken away needs further confirmation, but the possibility does exist. He mentioned that if He Weidong indeed has encountered trouble, its impact will be profound, at least in two aspects. Firstly, He Weidong is one of Xi Jinping’s most trusted individuals within the military. His fall from grace would mean the complete collapse of Xi Jinping’s last pillar of military power. Secondly, this development will seriously impact Xi’s overall military strategic positioning, potentially prompting adjustments in the CCP’s strategy regarding Taiwan and even triggering chain reactions in the geopolitical landscape of the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Tang Jingyuan further remarked that the rumors surrounding He Weidong being taken away for investigation post the Two Sessions have become rampant, yet there is no official response from the CCP to date. He stressed that He Weidong’s position is critical, especially considering he is one of Xi Jinping’s key confidants in the military and a core figure in the control of military authority. Therefore, if the rumors are mere speculation, the authorities should promptly arrange for He Weidong to make a public appearance in some manner to dispel external speculations. However, as of now, there is no indication that he is safe and sound.

He also mentioned that with a series of high-ranking military officials encountering trouble recently, from the case of Miao Hua to Wang Chunning’s disappearance, these incidents all point towards the same trend – those involved are close confidants of Xi Jinping and significant pillars of his military authority. However, one after another, they are facing issues. In this context, the sudden disappearance of He Weidong also aligns with this pattern. He stated that Xi Jinping’s power within the military is continually being weakened, even facing the risk of complete deprivation.