Astonishing Visuals! What is the Situation Between Cai Qi and Xi Jinping?

On June 17, 2025, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping made a recent visit to Kazakhstan, where he held bilateral talks with Kazakh President Tokayev. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Xi Jinping recently visited Kazakhstan. On June 17, he engaged in bilateral discussions with President Tokayev. However, observers noted a subtle seating arrangement during the meeting that sparked significant public debate: the distance between Standing Committee member Cai Qi and Xi Jinping was unusually wide, clearly enough to accommodate another chair.

According to the political commentary program "Da Yu Pai An Jing Qi," while some suggest that the spacing was intended to avoid obstructing the camera lens, the distance between the representatives from both sides was not unusual. Moreover, if it were merely a camera angle issue, why was there a distinct "gulf" specifically between Xi and Cai?

Since the Third Plenary Session last year, Cai Qi has frequently been absent from domestic and international events that he should have attended alongside Xi Jinping. Given this unusual seating arrangement, it raises intriguing questions. The program host speculated that internal factors may have led to Cai Qi being restricted from having "easy contact" with Xi Jinping, possibly reflecting dissatisfaction from the actual power holders within the party towards Cai.

Analysts suggest that after the Third Plenary Session, Cai Qi (Cài Qí) may have become too closely aligned with Xi Jinping (Xí Jìnpíng) in party and government matters, leading to dissatisfaction among senior officials and placing him in a precarious position. While it is necessary to maintain the facade of 'business as usual' externally, in reality, the interactions between Cai Qi and Xi Jinping may have been strictly curtailed. This 'symbolic visit' could simply be a way to prevent the outside world from detecting any signs of discord.

Another perspective indicates that Cai Qi's intentional effort to keep a 'distance' from Xi Jinping during this visit may also serve as a signal to the real power factions within the Communist Party, demonstrating that he has 'drawn a clear line' with Xi Jinping.

The publication 'Da Yu Pai An Jing Qi' previously cited internal sources stating that during last year's Third Plenary Session, Xi Jinping suffered a stroke, and Zhang Youxia (Zhāng Yòuxiá), the first vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, swiftly assumed control of military power. He then quickly managed to control Cai Qi and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong (Wáng Xiǎohóng), turning them, along with Xi Jinping, into 'puppet figures' who merely maintained a 'stable transition' of power on the surface.

In the totalitarian system of the Communist Party, losing power equates to losing everything, with no possibility of 'partial retention'. Once sidelined, it signifies complete marginalisation. Observers note that Cai Qi's arrangement to either position himself or be positioned 'a bit further away' may reflect the reality of this internal power reshuffle.