CCTV’s Footage Carries Meaning, Again Revealing the Status of Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia

Zhang Youxia (Video screenshot)

[People News] According to CCP state media, on the morning of September 17, a summary meeting marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping met with representatives from various sectors who had organized the commemorative activities. Accompanying him were Politburo Standing Committee member and head of the commemorative leadership group Cai Qi, as well as deputy heads Wang Yi, Yin Li, Li Shulei, Zhang Youxia, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, and Liu Zhenli. Cai Qi later delivered a speech at the summary meeting.

Notably, the broadcast on CCTV’s Xinwen Lianbo contained several unusual points. Since video of the 2015 summary meeting for the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance could not be found, the abnormality in this broadcast can instead be compared with footage of the CCP’s 70th anniversary celebration summary meeting on October 16, 2019.

1. More than two minutes into the report, Xi Jinping and others appeared, beginning to shake hands with representatives. In these shots, Xi was always shown together with other senior officials—there were no close-up shots of Xi alone, meaning he was not deliberately highlighted.

In contrast, in the 2019 70th anniversary summary meeting video, Xi was the very first to appear, with several seconds of close-up footage of him shaking hands before other Politburo Standing Committee members were shown. Clearly, six years ago CCTV’s coverage was consistent with Xi’s status as the “supreme leader.” Why, then, has CCTV’s approach now changed?

2. In the latest report, the footage of Xi and other leaders shaking hands with representatives lasted less than two minutes, whereas in 2019 the handshaking scene was nearly three minutes long. The shorter duration in the new broadcast—by more than one minute—appears to have intentionally reduced Xi’s screen time. What does this imply?

3. In the 2019 footage, the camera essentially followed Xi’s steps, emphasizing him personally. The camera also occasionally showed Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, and sometimes Wang Yang, but lower-ranked Standing Committee members appeared smaller and less prominent.

By contrast, in this year’s footage, every frame of Xi and other senior officials shaking hands also included Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, usually very clearly, even though Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Yin Li, and Li Shulei stood between Xi and Zhang. This was clearly a deliberate arrangement. What does this suggest?

4. After the group photo this year, CCTV aired footage of Xi leaving the venue. Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Yin Li and others followed behind him, clapping as they escorted him out. Such a scene was not shown in 2019.

Interestingly, while Xi was leaving, Zhang Youxia was seen talking with someone beside him. When he noticed Xi departing, Zhang did not move but merely made a clapping gesture while standing in place. What does this indicate?

As previous analyses have noted, there are growing signs that the person truly controlling military power is Zhang Youxia, backed by Party elders. While Zhang has publicly mentioned “Chairman Xi,” he has actually downplayed Xi’s role, avoiding any reference to the system of absolute responsibility under the Chairman of the Military Commission, and at times treating Xi with a certain dismissiveness.

For example, at the astronaut commendation ceremony for Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 held in Beijing on September 10, Zhang Youxia made no mention of Xi’s supposed concern for space development, nor did he voice words of loyalty, as though the Military Commission Chairman was of little significance.

At the September 3rd military parade, Zhang stood in the front row on Tiananmen Rostrum alongside Politburo Standing Committee members and was clearly shown in state media footage—an indication of his unusual stature.

Now, with CCTV airing footage of Xi’s departure, is this sending a signal—that Xi himself may soon “depart” from the stage? At the very least, the possibility cannot be dismissed.