Night of the Long Knives: China's 'Night of Long Knives' and the Mobilization of Predators

There is no direct equivalent in the Chinese political lexicon to the German Nacht der langen Messer, but the events of January 18, 2026, have already received their name - 'The Great Constellation Purge.'

Xi Jinping did not just arrest General Zhang Yuxia; he conducted an operation that, in its surgical brutality and consequences, is identical to the events in Germany on June 30, 1934.

Historical Rhyme: 1934 vs 2026

When Hitler ordered the destruction of Ernst Röhm and the leadership of the SA, he pursued the same goal that Xi does today: the elimination of power dualism.

Then: Hitler was obstructed by the 'brown-shirted men' who wanted a 'second revolution' and conflicted with the regular General Staff of the Reichswehr.

Now: Xi faced the 'pragmatist faction' in the Central Military Commission. Zhang Yuxia and Liu Zhenli were those who understood the real cost of war over Taiwan and could apply the brakes at a critical moment.

The main lesson of 1934: After the 'Night of the Long Knives,' the army (Wehrmacht) swore allegiance personally to Hitler. He gained a monolithic military machine, cleansed of internal opposition, which allowed him to prepare the country for global slaughter within five years.

The Chinese Scenario: The Path to Great War

The arrest of nine generals and the replacement of five out of seven members of the Central Military Council of the PRC is the creation of a 'one-man army.'

• Ending the Doubts:

  Xi removed those who 'tamped down' nuclear secrets and could sabotage the order to attack Taiwan.

• Wehrmacht 2.0 Tools:

  Hitler relied on tanks and aviation; Xi relies on AI swarms of 'predatory birds' and sniper drones. The new military leadership of China - they are not strategists, but enforcers who believe in technological superiority over the USA.

• The Psychology of the 'Besieged Fortress':

  Like in 1934, the purge is presented as salvation from 'treason' and 'working for the enemy.' This mobilizes society and justifies any military expenditures.

Why This Matters for Ukraine and February 1?

If Hitler became invulnerable within the country after 1934, then Xi Jinping, after January 18, 2026, has become the absolute master of war in the East.

Trump in Abu Dhabi will speak with Putin, but he will be looking back at Beijing. The 'Night of the Long Knives' has just ended there, meaning the time for diplomacy in the Pacific has run out.

For us, this means that Taiwan is no longer a 'prospect' but a 'timetable.' And this timetable Xi will now dictate unilaterally, without fear of being shot in the back by his own generals.