Has Xi Jinping Lost His Supreme Power? Eight Pieces of Evidence of a Change of Leadership at Zhongnanhai

March 11, 2023: Senior members of the CCP’s Central Military Commission line up to take the oath at the National People’s Congress. From right to left: Zhang Youxia, He Weidong, Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua, Zhang Shengmin. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News]  Recently, rumours about Xi Jinping losing power have been circulating widely. Many political commentators are closely watching the situation in Zhongnanhai. Independent commentator and YouTube blogger Lei Ge Vision published a blog article stating that the highest power has already shifted in Zhongnanhai, and listed eight pieces of evidence to support this claim.

Lei Ge Vision believes that after the 20th Party Congress, Xi Jinping has effectively become a "figurehead." His instructions in state media, local inspections, and foreign visits continue to be widely covered, but his loyalists have been ousted, marginalised, or sidelined. Strangely, articles criticising personal worship and one-man rule occasionally appear, and political opponents, particularly those from the Youth League faction, have recently become active again.

The article concludes that recent signs in Chinese politics suggest that the highest power in the Communist Party has undergone a substantial shift. The following are the eight key pieces of evidence for this power shift at Zhongnanhai.

1. Xi's Loyalists in the Military Are Being Purged in Large Numbers.

The article points out that the fall of Xi’s loyalists in the military, such as the announcement of the fall of the Central Military Commission's Director of Political Work, Miao Hua, in November last year, and the later downfall of Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong in March after the Two Sessions, were major events.

A series of Xi's key figures in the military have since been purged. Currently, the real power in the military is held by Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, who notably did not stand up or turn to salute Xi during the Two Sessions this year, marking a clear stance against Xi.

Xi Jinping, having lost control of the military, has lost everything.

2. Non-Xi Loyalists Have Been Appointed to Key Positions, While Xi's Supporters Have Been Investigated or Marginalised

3. The "Xi Zhongxun Memorial Hall" Has Been Renamed to "Guanzhong Revolutionary Memorial Hall". Xi Jinping's father's memorial hall, the "Xi Zhongxun Memorial Hall," has been renamed to "Guanzhong Revolutionary Memorial Hall," signalling a downgrading of Xi's father's political status.

4.  "Hu Jintao Quotations" Suddenly Appeared on the Front Page of People's Daily

5. The "Crowned Prince" Hu Chunhua Makes a Comeback, Youth League Faction Figures Reappear

6. There Has Been a Drastic Shift in Propaganda Stance. The slogans promoting Xi’s central leadership, such as "Two Establishes" and "Two Safeguards," have mostly disappeared from state media, while articles advocating for "collective leadership" and opposing personal worship have begun to appear frequently.

7. Core Xi Loyalists, Such as Cai Qi, Are Showing Signs of Defection

8. Beijing’s Discipline Inspection Secretary Visits Ren Zhiqiang with New Tea and Rice Dumplings. The visit by Beijing's Discipline Inspection Secretary, a person of such high rank, bearing gifts to visit Ren Zhiqiang—a prominent anti-Xi figure—carries heavy political significance. This suggests a shift in the political winds, with even Cai Qi and his loyalists potentially defecting.

Observers have also noted that as of June 3rd, Xi Jinping has not appeared in public for 14 days. At the end of May, a routine Politburo meeting was held, but no news has been released by state media. On June 2nd and 3rd, Xi Jinping was notably absent from the front pages of the Party's media outlets. Has the political climate in Zhongnanhai truly changed?

Additionally, the sudden removal of Hong Kong Liaison Office Director Zheng Yanxiong from all public posts on May 31 has attracted attention. Zheng Yanxiong, who was appointed by Xi Jinping to suppress the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition protests and to implement the National Security Law, being dismissed suggests changes in power dynamics within Zhongnanhai.

This turbulence in the Chinese Communist Party has also drawn international attention. According to Radio Free Asia, Gordon Chang, a prominent China expert with influence in U.S. conservative circles, cited President Trump’s concerns about the internal situation in the Chinese government. Chang even suggested that Xi Jinping may have already lost significant control of power.

Recently, The Epoch Times reported from authoritative sources that while Xi Jinping still appears to be in power, his political influence has significantly waned. Key figures like former Premier Wen Jiabao and Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia have become crucial players in shaping China's political future.