Strict Controls Are in Place Ahead of the Beidaihe Conference, and a Mysterious Tank Convoy Has Been Spotted in Beijing

The image shows a warning cone in Tiananmen Square. (Feng Li / Getty Images) 

[People News] The annual Beidaihe Conference, which has garnered significant attention from the public, has not yet taken place. However, since late June, Beidaihe has been under heightened security, with control measures being intensified. Recently, there have been reports of a suspected mysterious tank convoy on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing. Additionally, an elderly member of the anti-Xi faction within the Party has hinted politically, stating, "There will be changes in the autumn." These various signs suggest that the political landscape within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is both strange and unpredictable.

The CCP's annual Beidaihe Conference is usually held during the summer months of July and August. According to multiple sources, security measures along the route from Beijing to Beidaihe in Hebei have been significantly upgraded, with a sudden increase in checkpoints along the way and multiple inspections being conducted at train stations and on trains. Furthermore, travellers using ticket booking software have discovered that from June 26 to July 7 of this year, there were no train services available near Beidaihe Station, and "it will be difficult to purchase train tickets to Beidaihe after July 8."

Feedback from petitioners indicates that the density of checkpoints along the Beidaihe coastal area this year is higher than in previous years. Many intersections along the route from Beijing to Beidaihe have police cars and plainclothes officers stationed, and there are seven layers of checkpoints established. Inspections begin at Beijing Station, continue on the train with police patrolling, and persist until passengers disembark, exit the station, and even when taking taxis. Insiders have revealed that "hotels and guesthouses near the seaside have been requisitioned by the government, preventing ordinary people from checking in. Additionally, local mobile and internet signals have been significantly disrupted, resulting in weak and unstable connections."

Recently, a video shared on Xiaohongshu has surfaced, depicting a night scene on Beijing's Chang'an Avenue. In the footage, civilian vehicles are clustered on one side of the isolation barrier, while the opposite side seems to be closed off, allowing only a suspicious convoy to pass through.

The convoy is led by a blue truck labeled 'Road Inspection Vehicle', followed by other vehicles that also bear the same label, yet are clearly not construction vehicles.

Netizens have speculated that the shape of the covered vehicles and the sound of their engines suggest that there may be tanks hidden inside. Some users pointed out that if these were not tanks, there would be no need to cover the wheels. Others noted that the presence of tanks alongside large tents indicates a military mobilisation.

There are speculations among netizens that infighting is occurring within the upper echelons of the Communist Party, and that the military is undergoing a severe purge. The covert entry of tanks into Beijing raises concerns about whether 'something significant is happening'. Additionally, some netizens have mockingly remarked that the tanks traversing Chang'an Avenue evoke memories of the events of 1989. However, the video does not indicate when it was filmed, and reports suggest that the original footage has been deleted.

On June 30, the newspaper published a commentary by Du Zheng. He disclosed that he had recently received information from two independent sources. One source is a prominent anti-Xi political elder in Beijing, who conveyed a message urging patience, suggesting that changes are anticipated in the fall, with more clarity expected by October. The other source is the son of a deceased retired senior military officer, who remarked that 'the political atmosphere in Beijing has been quite unusual lately', but he refrained from providing further details.

Observers contend that the internal power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are fierce and unpredictable. Although the situation may seem calm on the surface, there are significant undercurrents at play. Additionally, external analysts have noted that a severe power struggle is unfolding within the CCP's military, which could potentially become one of the most perilous developments in the world today.

(Originally published by People News) △