Xi Jinping (People News)
[People News] At present, deep within the power core of Zhongnanhai, a violent upheaval is brewing that could potentially lead to the regime's collapse.
On May 7, 2026, the military court of the Communist Party of China sentenced two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, to death with a two-year reprieve and life imprisonment. This news detonated like a bombshell, igniting public discourse both at home and abroad. This marks the most severe punishment imposed on high-ranking military officials since Xi Jinping assumed power. He is now engulfed in an unprecedented fear of losing power, facing systemic betrayal within the military, a total collapse of public support, and a rapid economic decline. The imminent collapse of the Red Dynasty has prompted Xi Jinping to resort to increasingly brutal purges and iron-fisted control in a bid to maintain his grip on power. However, this approach may backfire, inevitably hastening the end of his authority in Zhongnanhai.
The party's control over the military, once viewed as a stabilising force for the Red regime, has now become a sword of Damocles hanging over Xi Jinping's head. His 13 years of efforts to build military combat capabilities and political loyalty have crumbled in the face of systemic corruption and betrayal by trusted allies, leading to a total defeat. Now, he can only rely on the bloody confines of Qincheng prison to tenuously maintain a terrifying balance of power.
As the saying goes, the 'turtle' that has precariously climbed to a high position through external means is desperately trying to uphold its shaky power, where even the slightest disturbance could trigger a fatal free fall.
The comprehensive backlash from the military: the collapse of the direct line to the core.
Xi Jinping has established the 'Chairman of the Central Military Commission Responsibility System' as the highest political principle, investing vast resources to reshape the military's loyalty and attempting to consolidate control over the armed forces. However, the generals he personally promoted and his close confidants have increasingly become his most significant threats.
The suspended death sentences handed down to Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu represent the harshest public punishment of deputy national-level military officials since the founding of the Communist Party of China. This ruling goes far beyond typical corruption cases, and the military newspaper's direct criticism of the 'two-heartedness' within the army sends a shocking and clear message; the political disloyalty and potential rebellion within the military have left Xi Jinping deeply unsettled. The bribery charges against Li Shangfu point directly to his former superior, Zhang Youxia, who was once seen as a staunch ally of Xi in the military. The investigations into red second-generation generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli signify a complete rupture between Xi Jinping and the last remnants of military power.
Since 2022, Xi Jinping has purged over 100 senior generals across all military departments, including the Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force, Equipment Development Department, Central Military Commission Office, various major theatres, and all military branches. Some systems have been nearly entirely dismantled, creating a significant power vacuum within the military. While the early purges could be seen as a cleanup of the previous regime's remnants, they have now devolved into infighting and mutual destruction among Xi's trusted allies. The downfall of Xi's faction generals such as He Weidong and Miao Hua, the dismissal of Zhong Shaojun, and the conflicts and arrests of Wei Fenghe, Li Shangfu, Zhang Youxia, and Liu Zhenli all highlight Xi Jinping's political failures and the brutal nature of the ongoing power struggle.
The central crisis stems from the military leadership's overwhelmingly pessimistic view of Xi Jinping's plans for the Taiwan Strait. Some generals have privately speculated about 'the situation China will face after defeat' and have even started to strategise for the post-Xi era. This betrayal cannot simply be attributed to corruption; it reflects a systemic distrust and potential confrontation from the most powerful armed forces within the CCP towards the Supreme Commander. In contrast, Xi Jinping continues to act unilaterally, conducting deep and frequent purges to secure his personal power. This has resulted in a breakdown of the entire military command structure and severely impaired combat capabilities. Consequently, Xi's paranoia has intensified, creating a vicious cycle: the more he purges, the less trust he receives; the less trust he receives, the more he purges, leading to a potential military collapse.
The ultimate fear of a dictator: Beijing transforms into a hell on earth.
The rapid erosion of power is inevitably accompanied by a pathological, almost paranoid fear. Xi Jinping's recent unusual behaviours starkly reveal this fear, placing the entire balance of power in a state of extreme fragility.
Firstly, the strange inspection in Shanghai. In late April, Xi Jinping brought half of the Politburo Standing Committee to Shanghai for a symposium on strengthening basic research, yet he did not follow the usual practice of inspecting stationed troops or engaging in large public activities. This discreet and low-profile schedule, which required a significant number of high-ranking officials for protection, is widely interpreted as an extreme fear of military raids following the arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Wherever he goes, that location instantly becomes a vacuum zone, with security measures far exceeding previous levels, indicating that Xi Jinping has effectively imprisoned himself in a psychological cage filled with perceived enemies.
Secondly, the 'May Day' border lockdown and exit ban. In a bid to prevent military generals and high-ranking officials from defecting, Beijing has significantly cancelled international flights during the May Day holiday, particularly targeting routes to Southeast Asia and countries with easy transit access. Furthermore, the restrictions on outbound travel have been extended to include county-level and even village-level officials, creating a comprehensive surveillance system over the entire bureaucratic structure. This extreme level of control reflects the Xi regime's deep-seated fear of insiders escaping, leaking information, or collectively defecting during sensitive periods. While it may appear to be focused on epidemic prevention or economic regulation, the true aim is to seal every crack in the power structure to maintain a precarious balance of terror.
Thirdly, the militarised iron curtain surrounding the capital. The current level of tension in Beijing has far surpassed that of the period surrounding the 20th National Congress. With street iron fences, roadblocks, and endless security checks, the former imperial capital has been transformed into a massive concentration camp. During the May Day period, tragic displays of loyalty erupted across the country, revealing the authorities' failure in social governance, which has led to a systemic social disaster.
The erosion of public support and the undercurrents of the internet: the quiet boiling of grassroots anger.
Behind the internal power struggles and security anxieties lies a dramatic shift in the sentiments of the Chinese grassroots, transitioning from passive endurance to active mockery and escape.
Douyin's 'Rebellion at Dawn' has emerged as the most emblematic phenomenon of online protest. In the late-night hours when censors are off duty, platforms like Douyin and Weibo have witnessed a surge of subtle yet pointed anti-Xi content, including edited images of black pigs, AI-generated depictions of Xi Jinping with long hair, covers of Hong Kong's 'Who Has Yet to Speak,' and viral videos featuring 'the turtle on top of the utility pole.' This metaphor is both sharp and ironic; the turtle, which ascended to a high position through external means, now finds itself in a precarious situation, awaiting a free-fall descent. This late-night revelry of mockery has become an unspoken consensus among the public, highlighting the complete failure of the official narrative promoted by Cai Qi.
Furthermore, stark data reveal a harsh reality. Over Xi Jinping's 13 years in power, the population of young people aged 20-29 in Beijing has nearly halved. Extreme leftist policies, a steep economic decline, and Cai Qi's brutal measures to 'clean up low-end populations' have turned the capital from a land of opportunity into a stifling communist nightmare. The streets of Beijing are rife with emptiness and desolation, with police, red armbands, and bridge guards present everywhere.
The shifting sentiments of the populace, coupled with betrayal from the upper echelons, have created a perfect political storm. Disloyalty within the military and public discontent have left Xi Jinping in a state of constant unease, retreating into his own mental turmoil, and the precarious balance of power he has worked so hard to maintain is at risk of collapsing at any moment.
The power struggle leading up to the 21st National Congress: a solitary figure on a powder keg.
China is currently in a critical phase of military power struggles ahead of the 21st National Congress. By imposing severe penalties on Wei and Li, Xi Jinping aims to intimidate the entire military with his fury, compelling them to declare loyalty and re-establish that fragile balance of terror. However, the unsettling silence from major military regions only heightens Xi Jinping's anxiety.
Throughout history, there have been many instances of desperate situations: Emperor Chongzhen, faced with the advance of Li Zicheng, remained suspicious of his generals, which ultimately led to his suicide at Coal Mountain; prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the growing rift between the KGB and the military hastened the empire's downfall. The current power dynamics within Zhongnanhai represent yet another cycle of this phenomenon.
(First published by People News) △
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