If the “Decapitation” of the High Command (Volume I) is the political visible layer of the crisis, the rise of the Shadow Command represents its operational reality. While the Central Military Commission (CMC) appears in disarray, a new generation of younger, tech-centric loyalists is quietly consolidating control over the units that would lead an assault on Taiwan.
I. The Rise of General Yang Zhibin
In December 2025, just weeks before the fall of Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping promoted General Yang Zhibin (62) to Commander of the Eastern Theater Command (ETC)—the primary force responsible for Taiwan operations (Taiwan News, 2025).
- The “Air Power” Pivot: Unlike his predecessors, who often came from the infantry, Yang has a deep Air Force background. His appointment signals a shift toward a “joint blockade” strategy, focusing on air superiority and missile saturation rather than a traditional D-Day style beach landing (Japan Times, 2025).
- The Loyalty Shield: Yang is considered a “Yes-Man” loyalist, untainted by the corruption scandals of the Rocket Force. His promotion, occurring mid-purge, suggests Xi is building a “Shadow CMC” of trusted theater commanders who report directly to him, bypassing the official bureaucracy (ICCS, 2026).
II. Logistics: The “Shuiqiao” Invasion Barges
While political analysts debate “readiness,” satellite imagery reveals a massive physical acceleration in amphibious hardware.
- The “Water Bridge” (Shuiqiao): In January 2026, the PLA Navy confirmed the deployment of a new class of specialized landing barges. These are not ships, but modular, jack-up platforms that can create a temporary deep-water pier on a rocky beach within hours (Naval News, 2025).
- The “Mulberry” Strategy: Reminiscent of the D-Day Mulberry Harbours, these barges allow China to bypass Taiwan’s heavily fortified ports. By docking massive Civilian Ro-Ro ferries to these “floating piers,” the PLA can offload heavy tanks directly onto coastal roads in areas the Taiwanese military previously considered “un-landable” (The War Zone, 2025).
III. Stockpiling and the “Justice Mission”
Throughout January 2026, the ETC under General Yang has conducted “Justice Mission 2025/26”, a series of drills that are no longer just “exercises” but have become a permanent blockade posture.
- The Human Wall: These drills have successfully tested the coordination of 1,400 “civilian” fishing vessels to form a maritime screen, effectively masking the movement of real military assets (Tribune India, 2026).
- Industrial Mobilization: Despite a 10% drop in general arms revenue due to the purges, production of short-range ballistic missiles and one-way “suicide” drones has reportedly increased, with factories in Fujian moving to 24-hour shifts (SIPRI, 2026).
Summary: The “Paper Tiger” Paradox
Intelligence agencies are currently split. One side sees a military made of “paper tigers”—disciplined but lacking initiative due to the atmosphere of fear (ORF, 2026). The other side warns that the “Shadow Command” is leaner, more loyal, and faster. By replacing the “Old Guard” with officers like Yang Zhibin and arming them with Shuiqiao-class technology, Xi Jinping has created a military that may be politically “brittle” but is technically more capable of a sudden, brutal strike in 2026.
References
- ICCS (Institute for China-Centric Studies) (2026) ‘China’s Military in 2026: Continued Political Purges as the Top Priority’, ICCS News, 26 January.
- Japan Times (2025) ‘China replaces military commanders overseeing Beijing and Taiwan operations’, The Japan Times, 23 December.
- Naval News (2025) ‘China Suddenly Building Fleet Of Special Barges Suitable For Taiwan Landings’, Naval News, 10 January.
- ORF (Observer Research Foundation) (2026) ‘Paper Tigers of PLA: Xi Dismantles China’s Central Military Commission’, Expert Speak, 27 January.
- Taiwan News (2025) ‘Xi taps top generals overseeing Taiwan and Beijing theaters’, Taiwan News, 24 December.
- The War Zone (2025) ‘Our Best Look Yet At China’s New ‘Invasion Barges’’, The War Zone, 13 March.
- Tribune India (2026) ‘China flexes its military muscles around Taiwan’, The Tribune India, 6 January.