Xi Jinping's Inspection of the 78th Army Makes No Mention of "Chairman Xi"

The Second-Generation Red Nobility Stages a Coup, Xi is Panicked. (People News Illustration)

[People News] Since rumors of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader’s illness emerged during the Third Plenum of the 20th CCP Central Committee in July, numerous anomalies have appeared in the CCP’s plenary bulletins, Zhongnanhai’s leadership, and the military. The most obvious irregularities include the repeated omission of "Xi Jinping Thought" and the "Two Establishes." Even military websites and reports have downplayed references to "Chairman Xi" and avoided mentioning the "Chairman Responsibility System of the Central Military Commission." By documenting and piecing together these anomalies, it becomes apparent that changes are unfolding within the CCP’s leadership. Xi’s authority over the military, and even the Party, is slipping or weakening.

On November 15, the military newspaper published a report on a certain brigade of the 78th Group Army studying the spirit of the CCP's Third Plenum. The entire article made no mention of "Chairman Xi," focusing instead on studying the plenum’s spirit and reforms in national defense and the military.

It is worth noting that on September 8, 2023, Xi Jinping inspected the 78th Army and emphasized the need to "thoroughly implement the new-era military strengthening ideology and the new-era military strategy." By convention, military branches should not only reference "Chairman Xi" but also express loyalty, as seen in November 2021, when a brigade of the 78th Army studied the spirit of the CCP's Sixth Plenum of the 19th Central Committee.

At that time, the reports contained numerous expressions of loyalty, such as:

"We must resolutely obey the command of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Chairman Xi, and fully implement Chairman Xi's strategic deployment for accelerating the modernization of national defense and the military."

"Everyone firmly expressed that the Party's establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Central Committee and the whole Party, as well as the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, reflects the common aspiration of the entire Party, military, and all ethnic groups in the nation."

"The fundamental reason for our military's great achievements lies in faithfully practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, particularly Xi Jinping's military-strengthening thought."

"We must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core," and strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," "Four Confidences," and "Two Upholds," implementing the Chairman Responsibility System of the Central Military Commission.

Now, not only have such expressions of loyalty disappeared, but even the term "Chairman Xi" is entirely absent. Such a situation would be impossible if Xi fully controlled military power.

The 78th Group Army is part of the Northern Theater Army, headquartered in Harbin. The current Army Commander, Li Qiaoming, served as Commander of the Northern Theater from 2017 to 2022. He is the first post-1960 military officer to hold a theater command position in the CCP, enjoys a strong reputation in the military, and values military research and reflection. Li has published articles on military theory, historical studies, and current affairs, including an essay titled "The Historical Tragedy of the Soviet Army's 'De-Partyization'"—a thorough analysis of how the collapse of the Soviet Union occurred. Li is closely associated with Zhang Youxia, the current First Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, who also has an Army background.

The current Northern Theater Commander, Huang Ming, and Political Commissar, Zheng Xuan, are also closely tied to Zhang Youxia. Therefore, the Northern Theater’s omission of "Chairman Xi" further corroborates rumors of Xi losing control over the military.

Undoubtedly, from the successive statements by various military branches, it is evident that they are realigning their positions, gradually distancing themselves from allegiance to Xi. The individual capable of driving such widespread statements across the military is already self-evident. △

(First published by People News)