Xi Jinping’s Strange Appearance Sparks Tremors in Zhongnanhai; High-Level Power Reshuffle May Be Underway

Dark clouds hang over Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] On June 4, after a 15-day absence, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping made a public appearance, meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Zhongnanhai, Beijing. The event instantly attracted international attention. Recently, Xi has faced a whirlwind of internal party purges, external tariff pressures, exposure of his family’s assets, and repeated setbacks in internal power struggles. The political landscape surrounding him has become increasingly complex and bizarre. This latest meeting with the Belarusian president has shown several strange anomalies, possibly indicating a restructuring of the CCP’s power structure, intensifying international gamesmanship, and uncertainties surrounding Xi’s leadership stability.

I. Xi Jinping "Disappears" and Reappears, Sparking Power Struggles Speculation

On May 19–20, Xi Jinping visited Henan Province, touring the Luoyang Bearing Group, White Horse Temple, and Longmen Grottoes. But following this appearance, he suddenly "vanished" for 15 full days, not appearing in any public events, triggering widespread speculation. Online, the hashtag "Where did Baozi (steamed bun, a nickname for Xi) go?" trended. Many independent bloggers and analysts boldly speculated that Xi might have suffered a weakening of power or even become embroiled in deeper political turmoil. These rumours also drew international attention and even involved former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to The Wall Street Journal, after recent U.S.-China tariff negotiations stalled, both sides blamed each other for breaching agreements. The U.S. accused China of failing to fulfil rare earth export promises, while China countered that the U.S. had not upheld its commitments to technology access for companies like Huawei. Against this backdrop, Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, told Fox News that the U.S. President had wanted to speak with Xi to break the deadlock, but “Xi Jinping has recently lost much of his power and no longer holds legitimate authority to represent the CCP in talks with the U.S.” This remark immediately fueled further speculation.

Adding to the confusion, Trump himself posted on his social platform that he would be speaking with Xi later that week. If Xi had truly “lost power,” why would the U.S. President still seek to talk directly to him? This contradiction intensified global scrutiny of Xi’s actual grip on power.

Meanwhile, Belarusian President Lukashenko arrived in Beijing on June 2 but was not received by Xi until June 4—a noticeable delay. Lukashenko is a key ally of Russia in the Ukraine war, and his visit coincided with a June 1 Ukrainian strike on a Russian nuclear facility that reportedly damaged at least 41 aircraft. Against this tense backdrop, Lukashenko’s urgent visit was likely an attempt to probe China’s latest stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, Xi’s delayed appearance raises questions—was it due to internal instability, or was there another motive? This remains a mystery.

Xi’s reappearance seems to dispel rumours of his complete political downfall. However, the peculiar scheduling of meetings, delayed communications with foreign leaders, and inconsistent foreign policy suggest that the internal power structure he once firmly controlled has shifted. Whether this was a deliberate strategy of “going dark” or a sign of actual constraints on his authority is still under close observation.

II. Strange Aspects of the Xi-Lukashenko Meeting

1. Unusual Venue and Format: The meeting took place in Zhongnanhai, not at the traditional venues for receiving foreign dignitaries like Diaoyutai State Guesthouse or the Great Hall of the People.

   According to Belarusian state media, Xi told Lukashenko during the meeting: “My office is right next door. This is the first time I’ve received you here.” Photos released by Belarus show the meeting took place at Chun Yi Zhai, located in the northwest corner of Zhongnanhai’s Fengze Garden—not at Xi’s usual office at Yingtai, making it seem like Xi had moved out of his regular office space.

2. Lowered Diplomatic Protocol: This visit was neither a state visit nor an official working visit. No welcome ceremony, formal talks, or agreement signings were arranged. The Belarusian side emphasised that this was a “family-style friendly luncheon.” This type of “family gathering” meeting was described by Belarus as an arrangement “never applied to any other world leader.” Additionally, Xi’s close confidant Cai Qi, Director of the CCP General Office, was absent from the meeting. Only Foreign Minister Wang Yi was present, and no translator accompanied them. Given Xi’s past performances, it is unlikely he could understand what Lukashenko was saying. This violates typical protocol for a head of state.

3. Delayed and Brief Official Coverage: Chinese state media Xinhua initially released only a brief text summary of the meeting without photos. Photos were added later. In contrast, the Belarusian state news agency first reported the meeting and shared more details.

Some analysts suggest that Xi’s long “disappearance” and the abnormal arrangements of the meeting may reflect internal CCP power restructuring or even problems with Xi’s personal health.

III. Xi Jinping Faces Hidden Crises Domestically and Abroad

In recent days, media reports have exposed the overseas wealth of Xi Jinping’s family. A recent report from the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence detailed the Xi family’s assets in the United States since 2012, showing that they still hold millions of dollars in business interests. These revelations starkly contrast with Xi’s image as a crusader against corruption.

His daughter’s attendance at Harvard University has once again sparked public debate in China. Many wonder how, with Xi’s official salary, he could afford to send her to study abroad. Independent media outlets claim that the U.S. intelligence community has long monitored Xi’s family and is now strategically releasing this information to undermine his legitimacy and public image. These disclosures are seen not only as pressure tactics on the CCP but also as leverage in future diplomacy and internal political manoeuvring, deepening Xi’s isolation within the party.

Although Trump posted on June 4, saying, “I like Xi Jinping—now and always will,” he also expressed concern over Beijing’s tough stance in tariff negotiations. His remarks indicate that the U.S. no longer expects to resolve the trade war swiftly through negotiations and sees it as a prolonged strategic contest.

At the same time, internal CCP power struggles are intensifying. Military leadership changes have become frequent, with Xi purging loyalists—some reportedly “forced to commit suicide.” These unusual personnel shakeups suggest major turbulence at the heart of the regime. The General Office of the CCP Central Committee recently issued an anti–far-left directive, which some analysts interpret as internal high-level dissatisfaction with Xi’s policies.

Elsewhere, significant errors in CCTV broadcasts, frequent violent traffic accidents in coastal areas, and rising public anxiety are seen as indirect expressions of societal discontent with the current regime.

Some analysts also believe that, given the current economic slump and technological bottlenecks, Beijing may delay its originally planned military action against Taiwan in 2027. This further reflects uncertainty in the CCP’s top-level military strategies and resource allocation.

All signs suggest that Xi Jinping is facing a multifaceted crisis—political, economic, social, and international. Earlier, The Epoch Times reported that Xi had already lost power. From recent developments, this does not seem far-fetched.

(First published by People News)