Wang Huning s Audacity Has Increased; He Actually Dared to Publicly Humiliate Xi

On the morning of September 24, 2025, Xi Jinping (right), the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, visited an exhibition celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Among the officials present, only Wang Huning (left) stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Xi Jinping, who was speaking, in a posture that suggested a superior looking down at a subordinate. (Internet image)

[People News] During Xi Jinping's recent inspection of Xinjiang, an unusual action by Wang Huning, who currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Secretary of the Party Group, has drawn significant public attention and sparked heated discussions.

In the Chinese Communist Party's officialdom, the posture of standing with hands behind the back, puffing out the abdomen, and speaking with the head held high is the standard for the highest-ranking official present, essentially the leader's typical pose. Both Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un frequently appear in the media in this manner. Other officials typically have two options for their posture: either keeping their hands close to their bodies at their sides or placing their palms together in front of their abdomen, often accompanied by an expression of attentive listening.

However, during Xi Jinping's recent inspection of Xinjiang, images released by party media showed that Xi Jinping's standard posture was missing; instead, it was Wang Huning, who accompanied the inspection, who adopted the leader's standard pose while looking at Xi Jinping, who was raising his hand to address numerous officials. In that moment, the roles of leader and subordinate seemed to have swapped between Xi and Wang. Some media outlets have suggested that Wang Huning's actions were a public humiliation of Xi Jinping, thereby confirming rumours that Xi Jinping's power has been diminished.

Overseas commentator Tang Jingyuan has analysed that a crucial concept within the culture of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is known as 'backhand culture.' If a subordinate openly stands with their hands behind their back in front of a superior, it is perceived as a public act of contempt or even a challenge. No seasoned official would dare to do this in front of Xi Jinping or under the gaze of CCTV cameras. It is evident that Wang Huning's actions were not coincidental.

In another image from state media, Wang Huning stands directly in front of Xi Jinping, who is waving his hand to deliver a speech. At this moment, Wang Huning still has his hands behind his back, looking at Xi Jinping with a scholarly gaze, which is considered a significant breach of protocol in official circles.

Another image shows Wang Huning once again standing with his hands behind his back while listening to Xi speak in a different venue. In contrast, when Wang previously accompanied Xi on inspections or visits, his body language was always that of a compliant subordinate. This brings to mind rumours from around May of this year, suggesting that as Xi Jinping's power has gradually diminished, Wang Huning has switched allegiances and begun assisting figures like Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua in their activities. The series of official photographs mentioned can be interpreted as evidence of Wang Huning's open disdain for Xi Jinping.

Why is Wang Huning acting this way? Tang Jingyuan suggests that the only plausible explanation is that Xi Jinping has already lost power and is now just a figurehead, which is why Wang Huning no longer takes Xi seriously. If outsiders only pay attention to the propaganda from the party media, they might conclude that Xi Jinping still wields significant authority. However, a closer examination of the subtle clues that occasionally surface from official circles and state media may reveal a different reality. △