File photo: Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang (right) at the closing meeting of the National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)
[People News] On June 30, Xinhua News Agency reported that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo convened a meeting to review the “Work Regulations for the Central Decision-Making and Coordination Bodies.” The meeting appeared highly unusual, and when considered alongside recent rumours of Xi Jinping losing power, it further confirms that Xi is facing serious challenges. The model of ruling through various task forces and committees that Xi promoted for years is collapsing, signalling the full end of his control over the Party, government, and military.
Reports from Xinhua and CCTV reveal three major anomalies in the June Politburo meeting:
Unusually Long Gap Between Politburo Meetings
The Politburo did not convene at all in May—an unusual move. The previous meeting was held on April 25, and the next one didn’t take place until June 30—a 65-day gap. While May 2023 also saw no Politburo meeting, the interval that year was 62 days.
From late May to early June 2025, Xi Jinping vanished from public view for 15 days, and there were no official reports of a May Politburo meeting. On June 4 and 5, Xi met with Belarusian President Lukashenko and the 11th Panchen Lama at his personal residence in Zhongnanhai. These unusual arrangements fueled speculation that a new leadership led by Wen Jiabao and Zhang Youxia may have placed Xi under house arrest. On June 8 and 10, Xi attended the funerals of Xu Qiliang and Re Di at Babaoshan. During these events, floral wreaths from Hu Jintao were prominently shown on CCTV, highlighting the resurgence of the Communist Youth League faction.
By late June, rumours spread of a “West Mountain Consensus” within the CCP, with Xi relegated to a transitional figurehead. Reports suggest a newly formed advisory committee comprising Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Zhang Youxia is now participating in top-level decision-making. With the Beidaihe meeting approaching, the political situation in Zhongnanhai appears volatile. That the June Politburo meeting was held only at the month’s end suggests internal instability and that all power struggles are now focused on the upcoming Fourth Plenum.
No Economic Topics Discussed – Highly Unusual
In most years, the CCP’s Politburo meeting in June focuses on economic or social development issues. For example, the June 27, 2024, Politburo meeting addressed the topic of further deepening reform and advancing Chinese-style modernisation, while the June 30, 2024, meeting reviewed the "Opinions on Supporting High-Standard and High-Quality Construction of the Xiong’an New Area." This focus on economic matters in June typically serves as preparation for the July Politburo meeting, which sets the agenda for economic policy in the second half of the year.
However, the June 2025 Politburo meeting instead reviewed the “Regulations on the Work of the Central Decision-Making and Coordination Bodies.” These so-called “central decision-making and coordination bodies” refer to the numerous task forces and committees established by Xi Jinping since 2018, such as: Central Committee for Comprehensive Law-Based Governance. Central Committee for Deepening Reform. Central Commission for Integrated Military-Civil Development. Central Leading Group for Rural Work. Central National Security Commission. Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission. Central Financial Commission. Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission. Xi implemented this task-force-led governance model to break the power grid left by the Jiang Zemin faction, which was often referred to as a “nine-headed hydra.” He took on dozens of leadership titles—committee chairs and team leaders—concentrating immense power in his hands. This model effectively sidelined Premier Li Keqiang’s State Council. When Li Qiang succeeded Li Keqiang, the State Council was further downgraded, becoming little more than Xi Jinping’s personal administrative office, and Xi’s "supreme leadership" became a dominant narrative in the Party.
But as Xi’s power has eroded, his task-force-and-committee style of governance has become a hollow shell. Xi is now merely performing ceremonial duties in line with arrangements made by Party elders—particularly in foreign affairs—while real authority over diplomacy and the economy has already shifted to others. In this context, the June 2025 Politburo meeting’s adoption of the “Regulations on the Work of the Central Decision-Making and Coordination Bodies” states that the regulations aim to “further standardise the establishment, responsibilities, and execution of these bodies.” It emphasises that these central Party bodies must “coordinate but not replace,” and “step in without overstepping boundaries.” This is effectively a straitjacket placed on Xi’s governance-by-committee model, greatly restricting his power.
State Media Deliberately Downplays Xi
Though the meeting was reportedly chaired by Xi Jinping, state media coverage strikingly downplayed his role. The Xinhua report was only 282 characters long, the shortest on record for a Politburo summary, suggesting not just sloppiness, but deliberate sidelining of Xi.
Xi’s name appears only once—in the headline. Nowhere in the body of the report is he mentioned, nor are any of his trademark phrases like “2442” (referring to his concentration of power). These committees were once Xi’s hallmark innovations. Why not emphasise them now? Either editors are getting bold, or top leadership is intentionally marginalising him.
CCTV was even more blatant. Its main newscast merely read the Xinhua bulletin without showing images or video footage of the meeting. Not even a headshot of Xi was aired. This minimal treatment hints at missing or absent attendees, such as Miao Hua, He Weidong, and Li Ganjie. CCP’s façade of unity is cracking under the weight of internal purges and scandals. The Party may boast over 100 million members, but Qincheng Prison is packed, and infighting is escalating.
Xi's Loss of Power is Now Global News
News of Xi’s waning power has reached international headlines. On June 27, U.S. General Michael Flynn posted on X (Twitter), claiming a power transition is underway in the CCP, and that confidence in leadership is eroding. He suggested that a new structure led by Zhang Youxia, Ding Xuexiang, and Chen Jining is forming.
On June 2, Gordon Chang, a prominent China expert with significant influence in U.S. conservative think tanks and media circles, stated in an interview with FOX News that former President Donald Trump had expressed concerns about something unusual happening within the Chinese government. Chang believes that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has already lost much of his power.
On June 5, renowned Japanese journalist Katsuji Nakazawa published an article in Nikkei Asia titled “Analysis: Xi Jinping’s Grip on Power in Doubt,” listing several incidents suggesting that Xi’s authority may be in crisis. Nakazawa pointed out that multiple defence ministers have been purged in recent years, senior military officials have reportedly been removed or investigated, and the CCP state media unusually failed to report whether the Politburo held its routine meeting in May. These anomalies, he argues, indicate instability within Xi Jinping’s regime.
The June Politburo meeting did not announce the date for the Fourth Plenum, even though July and August are typically reserved for the CCP's Beidaihe leadership retreat, and a major military parade led by Xi is expected in September. As such, the Fourth Plenum is highly likely to be held in October. Recently, commentator Du Zheng wrote that anti-Xi Party elders in Beijing have been leaking hints that significant changes may occur in the fall, and that China may witness an “October Surprise.” Regardless of the specifics, Xi Jinping’s grip on power appears to be steadily unravelling. △
(First published by People News)
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!