March 10, 2025, Beijing Great Hall of the People—A security guard stands at the entrance before the closing ceremony of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. (WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images)
[People News] Rumours of Xi Jinping’s loss of power are growing more intense, with the truth seemingly close to emerging. After a 15-day public absence, Xi reappeared — and immediately revealed signs of trouble during his first public event. His meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was marked by a downgrade in official protocol, a suspicious location, and oddities in official reports — all suggesting serious issues. These signs point not only to Xi losing power, but also raise suspicions that he may be under house arrest. On the evening of June 5, Xi spoke with former U.S. President Donald Trump. But the Party media’s first report on the call notably omitted any mention of Xi’s official titles — a curious signal indeed.
On June 6, Xinhua News Agency published a report titled “Xi Jinping Receives an Audience with Panchen Erdeni Chökyi Gyalpo,” stating: “On June 6, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CCP Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, received Panchen Erdeni Chökyi Gyalpo in Zhongnanhai.” Wang Huning and Cai Qi accompanied Xi, and Li Ganjie also attended. The report was accompanied by three photos. People’s Daily and CCTV reposted the news, with text and images but no video.
At first glance, everything seems normal. Wang Huning oversees the CPPCC; Cai Qi is Director of the General Office; Li Ganjie has taken over the United Front Work Department. All are standard officials for such a meeting. But on closer inspection, the most flawless spot reveals the biggest flaw. During Xi’s recent inspection trip to Henan, Cai Qi was mysteriously absent. Cai was also missing during Xi’s meeting with Lukashenko the previous day, which sparked outside speculation. Suddenly, Cai shows up inside Xi's personal residence in Zhongnanhai. It all feels staged — as if the script was quickly rewritten. It seems the "director" realised the audience was too perceptive and had to make last-minute changes to avoid a major plot hole. Cai Qi was rushed in as a patch to maintain the illusion.
What’s even more suspicious is the location of the meeting with the Panchen Lama. The state media once again uses vague wording. At first glance, it appears the meeting happened in the same spot as Xi’s meeting with Lukashenko — indeed, comparing it with Belarusian state media footage from June 5, the location is Zhongnanhai’s Chunyi Zhai in Fengze Garden.
Belarusian media reported that Xi told Lukashenko during their meeting: “My office is just next door. This is the first time I’ve received you here.” Lukashenko thanked Xi for “inviting me to your home.” In return, he said, “I’ll be waiting for you at my place.” This exchange fueled speculation that Xi’s office has been moved out of Yingtai Island, and perhaps more seriously, that Xi may have lost personal freedom.
Although the cast of characters for the Panchen Lama meeting seemed complete, the location was still Xi’s private residence. For such a major religious and ethnic event, this remains oddly informal — just a "home meeting" with tea. This adds to suspicions that Xi is in a "naked" state of power, or even under soft detention.
If Xi were operating normally and had simply moved his office to Chunyi Zhai, then key organs like the General Office would also have moved accordingly. In that case, Cai Qi should have been present at the Lukashenko meeting as well. Why, then, was Cai absent then, but mysteriously present a day later?
Panchen Erdeni Chökyi Gyalpo is the figure the CCP designated as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995 for its united front propaganda — a choice neither accepted by the Dalai Lama nor by the Tibetan people. On May 14, 1995, the Dalai Lama announced that six-year-old Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was the true reincarnation of the 11th Panchen Lama. On May 17, Chinese authorities abducted the boy and his family. They have now been missing for 30 years.
Xi Jinping previously met Panchen Erdeni Chökyi Gyalpo on June 10, 2015, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. That meeting took place in Zhongnanhai as well, but in a formal reception room. Top leaders like CPPCC Chair Yu Zhengsheng, United Front Minister Sun Chunlan, and General Office Director Li Zhanshu were all present.
Notably, the Tibet Autonomous Region was officially founded in late August 1955. Before Xi came to power, anniversary celebrations were always led by the CPPCC chair and held in Tibet. For instance, on August 27, 2005, Jia Qinglin led a delegation there. But under Xi, the 50th and 60th anniversaries were marked in June, with the Panchen Lama visiting Beijing, a much earlier and odd timing.
Why June? Former Party leaders Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao also met the Panchen Lama — but never in June. The CCP gave no clear reason, but the most plausible theory is that it aligns with Xi Jinping’s personal preference. Rumours say Xi is deeply superstitious and devoutly Buddhist. His birthday is June 15. Meeting with the Panchen Lama in early June may serve as a kind of pre-birthday blessing.
Before the Tibetan New Year on February 21, 2024, Politburo member and former United Front head Shi Taifeng met the Panchen Lama in Beijing. In his speech, Shi recited Xi Jinping–related slogans like “Two Establishes,” “Four Consciousnesses,” “Four Confidences,” and “Two Upholds.” But in the February 13, 2025, meeting with the same Panchen Lama, Shi Taifeng did not mention any of these Xi-era political slogans, signalling that Xi’s power may have already waned.
Soon after, Shi Taifeng, a prominent Tuanpai (Youth League faction) figure, was appointed head of the Organisation Department, replacing Xi ally Li Ganjie. Within two weeks of being demoted to United Front chief, Li Ganjie’s close ally, Jin Xiangjun, the governor of Shanxi, was arrested. Rumours claimed Li and Jin’s wives were involved in selling government posts. It was said Jin had tried (and failed) to use Li’s influence to become Inner Mongolia Party Secretary. After Jin fell, Li Ganjie mostly vanished from public view, sparking speculation he too had been arrested.
As the Fourth Plenary Session approaches, the CCP military has been engulfed in scandal: Xu Qiliang suddenly died, Miao Hua was stripped of his NPC seat, and the fates of He Weidong and He Hongjun remain unknown. Xi’s military power base has effectively collapsed. Notably, no Politburo meeting was held in May — a rare omission. Meanwhile, the Tuanpai faction is resurgent, with Hu-Wen–era policies reappearing in the press. There are widespread rumours that Red aristocrats and military elders secretly convened an expanded Politburo meeting and decided on a power transition, forcing Xi to step down. Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua are said to be the chosen successors. Under immense pressure, Xi reportedly visited the White Horse Temple to pray for divine intervention. Turbulence at the top of the CCP suggests intense internal power struggles, gradually becoming more visible, attracting international attention. Putin, Lukashenko, and Trump have all been sending signals. Japanese and Taiwanese media are loudly noting the abnormal signs. Behind the scenes, Zhongnanhai is surging with political undercurrents, even as it tries to maintain a facade of stability.
Xi Jinping, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and Li Ganjie — the master and his three lieutenants — appeared together at Xi’s mysterious residence, Chunyi Zhai in Zhongnanhai. A play? A trap? A lament? A fate? Anything is possible. All their schemes to preserve the Party and cling to power… may in the end cost them their lives. △
(First published by People News)
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