Attempted Coup in China?

China has arrested one of its most powerful military figures, General Zhang Youxia, sparking widespread speculation and competing explanations about what is unfolding behind closed doors in Beijing.

General Zhang, who served as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and was effectively second-in-command of China’s armed forces, has been detained for what authorities describe as serious violations of discipline and law.

While officials have remained tight-lipped, different explanations are now being offered, including rumours of a failed internal coup within the Chinese Communist Party, following the sudden removal and investigation of several senior military figures.

Leaked internal briefings circulating online allege that General Zhang is also accused of selling sensitive nuclear weapons information to the United States, which represents one of the most serious national security breaches in China’s history.

Chinese authorities have not publicly confirmed the espionage allegations, and no official statement has referenced a coup.

However, the scale of the arrest and the seniority of the general involved have fuelled intense speculation about power struggles at the highest levels of the CCP and the military.

These events put a massive dent in China's ambitions to be seen as the world's leader.