The CCP military newspaper issued a breaking news signal

 Direct translation

On the eve of the Fourth Plenary Session, the Chinese Communist Party’s military newspaper issued a breaking news signal

Editor: Shi Fang / Source: The Epoch Times / https://www.aboluowang.com/2025/1007/2287758.html

The Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee is expected to be held in Beijing from October 20th to 23rd. A recent commentary in the PLA Daily stated that the security situation is experiencing "increasing instability and uncertainty," necessitating that the military maintain a state of combat readiness at all times. Given the ongoing personnel crisis within the Chinese military, the PLA Daily's commentary has drawn attention. Some analysts suggest that military personnel changes may be a top priority at the Fourth Plenum, and whether Dong Jun will be promoted to the Central Military Commission (CMC) will be a key indicator of the military's prominence.

On October 6th, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the PLA Daily published a short commentary acknowledging the "increasing instability and uncertainty" of the current CCP security situation. Only by "maintaining a state of combat readiness, ready to fire at any moment" can PLA officers and soldiers effectively respond to various emergencies.

The commentary asserts that PLA officers and soldiers should "loyally perform their duties and fulfill their responsibilities" through concrete actions, always "keeping their combat readiness taut, preparing their troops, and staying on the alert, ensuring they are always ready and able to fight."

Since 2012, a large number of high-ranking Chinese military officials have been investigated or disappeared, including former Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Miao Hua. Following this year's Two Sessions, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, He Weidong, disappeared and remains unaccounted for.

Mark, host of the military aerospace channel's "Mark Time and Space," analyzed that the CCP often cries out for whatever it lacks. The more disunity there is, the more it cries for unity. The more pessimistic people are about Xi Jinping, the more it insists on uniting closely around the core. Currently, a large number of high-ranking officers have been dismissed, creating a sense of chaos within the military. To avoid widespread discussion within the military, the CCP is strengthening its war preparations and continuously intensifying training to keep the troops busy and distracted, effectively covering up problems at the top. The so-called readiness to fight at any time is just a slogan; it doesn't entail any war; it's a way to prevent unrest in the military.

The CCP has consistently used both verbal and military intimidation against Taiwan. Xi Jinping recently reiterated his opposition to "Taiwan independence," secessionist sentiment, and external interference at the National Day reception.

On July 21st of this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act of 2025 by voice vote. The bill stipulates that if the Chinese Communist Party dares to use force against Taiwan, the U.S. Treasury will immediately initiate economic sanctions.

China expert Wang He analyzed that the CCP mentioned a period of strategic opportunity before the 20th National Congress, but it rarely appears now. The current mention of increasing instability factors indicates that the CCP's assessment of the security situation is becoming increasingly pessimistic.

Wang He said that in the current economic crisis and intensified internal strife, the CCP has used military development and the use of force abroad as a solution to its predicament, greatly increasing the likelihood of the CCP regime launching wars abroad. This military newspaper's commentary, published on the CCP's so-called National Day (Memorial Day), actually sends a very negative signal. However, whether the Chinese Communist Party's military can win a war remains a question mark.

After Miao Hua's downfall, the most critical position in the military, "Director of the Political Work Department," has been vacant for a long time. Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) He Weidong has disappeared from public view since March 2025, leaving Zhang Youxia, the sole remaining Vice Chairman, to shoulder the responsibilities of the entire military. Veteran commentator Hong Yaonan, writing in Taiwanese media outlet Newtalk, stated that this concentration of power in one person may appear stable, but in reality, it is fraught with danger: if Zhang Youxia's position were to change due to health, political, or trust issues, the CMC structure could collapse instantly, leaving the entire military command system without a successor.

Image : File photo

American-based political commentator Chen Pokong analyzed that the CCP's military leadership is currently in a state of paralysis. "Can this army still fight? Can it still confront the United States? Can it still attack Taiwan?"

He believes that addressing the paralysis at the top of the military hierarchy at the Fourth Plenum will likely be a top priority for the CCP, and the struggle among various parties will be intense.