Ma Xingrui Aide Arrested; Cai Qi Ally Detained; Wen Jiabao Reappears

Former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

[People News] The power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continue unabated, despite any superficial victories. Following Xi Jinping's capture of Zhang Youxia, it appeared that he had dealt a significant blow to both the military and internal dissent, thereby restoring his authority.

On March 23, after several months of retreating to Beijing, Xi Jinping conducted a high-profile inspection of the Xiong'an New Area, accompanied by three Standing Committee members: Cai Qi, Li Qiang, and Ding Xuexiang. This was an attempt to project an image of a solid Xi faction, effective command, and loyal ranks.

However, the situation is quite different. On March 27, Guo Yonghang, a former subordinate of Ma Xingrui and over 60 years old, was suddenly announced to have fallen from grace after two months of stepping back from frontline duties. On the same day or shortly thereafter, Cai Qi's confidant, Xia Linmao, a member of the Beijing Standing Committee and Executive Vice Mayor, was taken away for investigation. Concurrently, former Premier Wen Jiabao made a public appearance at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, dispelling concerns about his safety.

These three interconnected events send a clear message: Xi Jinping's power base remains unstable, and the anti-Xi factions are still active, with new developments continually emerging in the ongoing palace intrigue.

With Guo Yonghang's fall from grace, an announcement regarding Ma Xingrui is imminent

According to a report from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on March 27, Guo Yonghang, a member of the Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference Party Group and Vice Chairman, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law. He was only elected as Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference on January 28, indicating that the authorities had likely been preparing for this situation.

Guo Yonghang, aged 61, is from Shandong, just like Ma Xingrui. The two share a close relationship, having worked together in Shenzhen for over 28 years. During Ma Xingrui's tenure as Secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee from 2015 to 2016, Guo Yonghang served as the Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, effectively acting as Ma's 'chief secretary'.

Afterwards, Ma Xingrui was promoted to Governor of Guangdong Province, and Guo Yonghang was reassigned as Secretary of the Zhuhai Municipal Committee. By the end of 2021, Guo Yonghang became the Mayor of Guangzhou, and in June 2023, he was elevated to a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee. This upward trajectory clearly indicates his reliance on Ma Xingrui. In July 2025, Ma Xingrui was unexpectedly dismissed from his role as Secretary of the Xinjiang Party Committee, with the official explanation being 'other arrangements'. Following this, Ma Xingrui gradually faded from public view, missing several significant events, including collective study sessions of the Political Bureau, the Central Economic Work Conference, the Political Bureau's democratic life meeting, and even the 2026 National Two Sessions, which fueled rampant speculation about his downfall.

Guo Yonghang's fate is closely linked to that of Ma Xingrui. On December 24, 2025, Guo Yonghang was removed from his position as Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee, with the official statement again citing 'other arrangements'. On January 23, 2026, his qualification as a representative of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress was revoked, and he was subsequently reassigned to the relatively low-profile role of Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Political Consultative Conference, which many observers interpret as a potential warning sign of trouble ahead.

Just two months later, on March 27, Guo Yonghang was officially announced as having fallen from power. The timing of this incident is noteworthy; Xi Jinping had just made a high-profile appearance in Xiong'an to assert 'power stability,' and suddenly, Ma Xingrui's former subordinate was ousted. Both Ma and Guo hail from Shandong, and their political affiliations are closely linked to Peng Liyuan. Guo Yonghang's downfall can be seen as another blow to the already fallen Ma Xingrui. Overseas commentator Jiang Wangzheng had previously disclosed that Ma Xingrui was about to be officially announced as having fallen from power. Earlier, Jiang had revealed that Ma Xingrui and his wife, Rong Li, had been taken away for investigation as early as 2025, with potential capital outflows reaching up to 7 billion yuan. On March 24, 2026, a blogger on the X platform, 'Zhongri Political and Economic Commentary (Director Lu),' posted: 'Through the boss transferring money, leaving traces, the other party confessed as soon as they entered, it was solidified.' This suggested that Rong Li had transferred 10 million dollars overseas through a senior executive of a listed company.

As a trusted confidant of Xi Jinping and his wife, whether it is through self-revolution, shedding tears to cut off Ma Su, or being targeted by anti-Xi generals, Ma Xingrui's situation and impending downfall undoubtedly serve as a satire for Xi Jinping himself, akin to Xi cutting off his own arm and creating a power crisis and political consumption for himself.

Xia Linmao, a close associate of Cai Qi, has been taken in for questioning.

Around the same time as Guo Yonghang's downfall, news circulated widely on the X platform that Xia Linmao, a close confidant of Cai Qi, a member of the Beijing Municipal Standing Committee and Executive Vice Mayor, had been taken away for investigation. Xia Linmao has long been active in Beijing's political scene, having held positions such as Secretary of the Dongcheng District Committee and Secretary of the Education Working Committee, and has close ties with Beijing figures like Cai Qi and Chen Jining, especially being regarded as a direct subordinate of Cai Qi.

Xia Linmao has a complex background. He was promoted during the tenures of Liu Qi and Guo Jinlong, and further advanced under the leadership of Cai Qi and Chen Jining in Beijing. In 2016, when Cai Qi became the deputy secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee, Xia Linmao served as the district party secretary in Miyun and Dongcheng, closely following Cai Qi's directives. He took bold actions during the cleanup of Beijing's low-end population issue, sincerely executing Cai Qi's urgent orders, which earned him Cai Qi's recognition. In 2021, Cai Qi elevated him to a member of the Beijing Municipal Standing Committee. After Cai Qi joined the Standing Committee, Xia Linmao became the executive vice mayor of Beijing, thus becoming a loyal political aide to Cai Qi. Multiple users on platform X have reported that Xia Linmao is involved in the 'Zhou Liang case,' which includes allegations of 'embezzlement of public funds and stock market manipulation.' Zhou Liang is a central figure in Wang Qishan's inner circle and was recently investigated. If he is implicated in the same case as Xia Linmao, it would be quite significant, as Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign often results in collateral damage. This time, the surgical operation targeting Wang Qishan has also impacted Cai Qi's main artery.

Wen Jiabao Makes an Appearance at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Elder Statesman Remains Resilient

As a former Premier, Wen Jiabao is a key figure in the CCP's elder faction, and there have long been rumours that he is a significant force opposing Xi Jinping. On February 6, 2026, during the 46th chairman meeting of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, both Wen Jiabao and Tian Xuebin were stripped of their qualifications as CPPCC members. On January 5, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection reported that Tian Xuebin, the former deputy minister of water resources, was the 'first tiger' of 2026, under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law.

On December 18, 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced the downfall of Wang Wenhua, the former Party Secretary and Director of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal People's Congress in Shandong Province. Wang Wenhua had previously served as the confidential secretary to Li Ruihuan, the former Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. There are widespread rumours that Wen Jiabao and Li Ruihuan have allied with Zhang Youxia's military faction to jointly undermine Xi Jinping. As representatives of the elder statesman faction, they are key figures in the political circle that seeks to disrupt Xi Jinping's dictatorial power framework, making it understandable that Xi Jinping would want to eliminate them quickly.

The background of Tian Xuebin has understandably raised concerns about Wen Jiabao's safety, with many fearing for his well-being. Social media even circulated claims that Wen Jiabao's home in the capital was surrounded by officers from the Special Security Bureau. However, Wen Jiabao's public appearance at this time carries significant meaning, as it conveys at least four important signals. First, it directly refutes the rumours that Wen Jiabao is 'about to be arrested.' Second, it strongly indicates that the elder statesman faction remains stable and resilient. Publicly released photos show Wen Jiabao smiling, appearing energetic, and in good health. Third, the elder statesmen are not defeated; they can still move freely and appear in public, countering the narrative that they are being suppressed by Xi Jinping. Fourth, the political message conveyed by Wen Jiabao's appearance subtly challenges Xi Jinping's authority. The presence of the elder statesman faction serves as a reminder to Xi Jinping that even if Zhang Youxia is arrested, there are still significant constraints within the party that could shatter Xi Jinping's dream of maintaining power indefinitely.

The recent succession of these three incidents has thoroughly dismantled the superficial facade of Xi Jinping's 'power consolidation.' The internal power struggle within the upper ranks of the Chinese Communist Party is far from resolved. Although Xi Jinping seems to be making a high-profile return, he is, in fact, besieged by adversaries on all fronts. The repercussions of his self-inflicted wounds will only grow more severe, and the currents of opposition against him continue to surge. The future remains unpredictable.

(First published by People News) △