Is Wang Xiaohong Stepping Down? Has Xi Jinping's Trusted Aide Been Sidelined?

Cai Qi and Wang Xiaohong serve as Xi Jinping's gatekeepers. (Composite image)

[People News] On February 12, 2026, the X platform account "Sino-Japanese Political and Economic Commentary (Director Lu)" posted a brief message stating, "As the storm approaches, some in the Ministry of Public Security are happy while others are worried." This message was accompanied by a close-up photo of Wang Xiaohong in uniform at a meeting.

The "Sino-Japanese Political and Economic Commentary (Director Lu)" account gained notoriety after accurately reporting on Zhang Youxia's incident on January 21, leading users on the X platform to view it as a blogger with political connections. Director Lu did not clarify what issues Wang Xiaohong might face, but interactions between him and netizens suggest that Wang Xiaohong may resign as Minister of Public Security due to health concerns.

The truth of this news is yet to be confirmed, but given the intricate political developments in Zhongnanhai following Zhang Youxia's arrest, this information does not appear to be unfounded.

In the Chinese Communist Party's political landscape, health issues have never been the foremost concern affecting the political futures of high-ranking officials. Officials' health indicators must align with the prevailing political climate. In the harsh realities of political rivalry and intense power struggles, health reports and medical evaluations serve as the most respectable credentials and the gentlest means of political manoeuvring. Who truly relinquishes power solely due to health reasons? Furthermore, Wang Xiaohong is a close ally and the most loyal aide of Xi Jinping.

If the reports are accurate, it suggests that Xi Jinping's decision to arrest Zhang Youxia is indeed a significant gamble, and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. If things go awry, he risks causing serious harm to himself. The details surrounding the incidents involving Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli differ across various online accounts. Some claim that Zhang Youxia was surrounded and taken away by the Special Police Bureau led by Wang Xiaohong at his home, while others report a gunfight at the Beijing Jingxi Hotel, where Zhang Youxia's security team was overwhelmed by the Special Operations Team of Wang Xiaohong's bureau. There are also rumours that three factions—Cai Qi's Central Guard Bureau, Li Xi's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Wang Xiaohong's Special Police Bureau—coordinated their efforts to arrest Zhang Youxia.

Regardless of the version, Cai Qi and Wang Xiaohong, who have been close allies of Xi Jinping for many years, wield significant power and have control over the movements and even the life-and-death decisions of high-ranking officials at the deputy ministerial level and above. The incidents involving Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are undoubtedly connected to these two figures. Additionally, there are rumours that after Xi Jinping's move against Zhang Youxia, he faced backlash from the military, with anti-Xi factions—including military leaders, the red second generation, and party elders—confronting him and demanding the removal of Cai Qi, Wang Xiaohong, and Li Xi as a condition for a dignified exit from power.

The exact circumstances of how Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli fell from grace and how they were ensnared by Xi Jinping remain unclear. However, it is evident that the power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party are ruthless and unforgiving. It is highly improbable that Xi Jinping could have successfully taken down Zhang Youxia without relying on enforcers like Cai Qi and Wang Xiaohong.

Interpreting Wang Xiaohong's impending troubles within the context of the power struggle surrounding Zhang Youxia's downfall is quite logical. This suggests that the anti-Xi faction is intensifying its efforts, and a boomerang has already targeted Xi Jinping's enforcer, Wang Xiaohong.

Recently, the incident involving Zhang Youxia has sparked intense exchanges between the Xi faction and the anti-Xi faction, resulting in a confusing political landscape in Zhongnanhai. To date, the military newspaper has released several articles criticising Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, but notably, the tone of these critical pieces has been consistently softened, shifting from political accusations to issues of economic corruption.

On February 9, the People's Liberation Army Daily published another article titled "Political Strength is the Most Fundamental Strength," which subtly compared Zhang Youxia to Zhang Guotao, a traitor to the party and the nation, indicating a brewing storm. However, it is quite peculiar that this article was later removed by the military newspaper itself. This situation underscores the extreme chaos and instability within the military, suggesting that after Xi Jinping's article was released to gauge reactions, he faced internal pushback, raising concerns about his ability to manage the military dynamics, which may have compelled him to retract his statements.

Xi Jinping is struggling to stabilise the military and is apprehensive about a potential coup, to the point that during this year's Spring Festival visit, he was so alarmed that he did not leave Beijing. On February 10, Xi Jinping unusually remained inside the August 1 Military Commission building to conduct a video conference with grassroots military non-commissioned officers. His earlier visit to retired senior military officials was heavily secured, devoid of any festive atmosphere, with young security personnel disguised as soldiers mingling among the retired officials. This indicates that after detaining Zhang Youxia, Xi Jinping not only failed to feel secure but instead became increasingly anxious, living in fear and unable to find peace.

On February 5, Zhao Leji chaired the 20th meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. This session was initially planned as an additional meeting, but it notably sidestepped the issue of removing Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from their positions as members of the National People's Congress, which has left the public quite shocked. This situation clearly indicates that Xi Jinping's control over Zhang Youxia is lacking in popular support and has faced significant resistance within the party and government structures.

In a rather amusing turn of events, Xi Jinping appears to be quite superstitious. To mitigate the supposed negative influences of the Red Horse and Red Sheep calamities, he ordered that yellow lanterns be hung throughout the streets of cities in the provinces surrounding Beijing. This decision sparked a wave of mockery and sarcasm online, as yellow lanterns are traditionally associated with funerals. The public found it laughable, collectively celebrating the notion that 'the CCP is going to fail.' There were rumours that the display of yellow lanterns around Beijing attracted negative energy that impacted Xi Jinping's health, prompting a swift decision to replace the yellow lanterns with red ones.

While the lanterns have been changed back, the fortunes of the year have not improved. It appears that Wang Xiaohong, the influential figure, is facing a significant decline, and Xi Jinping has been effectively disarmed. Public records show that Wang Xiaohong's last public appearance was on February 5, during a video conference focused on the national crackdown on telecom and internet fraud, where he was present and spoke. When the Ministry of Public Security reported this event, it referred to him as 'Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and State Councillor Wang Xiaohong,' omitting his title as Minister of Public Security.

Wang Xiaohong also mysteriously vanished for nine days in November 2025, during which it was reported that his close associate, Yi Jun, died unexpectedly. There are rumours suggesting that he was killed by the military following a confrontation with the 38th Army prior to the Fourth Plenary Session. On December 3, 2025, Wang Xiaohong attended a national video conference on drug control. In the report by Xinhua News Agency, he was referred to only as 'State Councillor and Director of the National Narcotics Control Commission,' omitting the title of 'Minister of Public Security,' which drew public attention.

The future of Wang Xiaohong remains uncertain. Historically, the fates of oppressive officials have often been tragic, and Wang Xiaohong is likely to be no different.

(First published by People News) △