Cai and Xi Create a 'Community of Shared Destiny', Leading to an Inevitable Collapse

Cai and Xi Create a 'Community of Shared Destiny', Leading to an Inevitable Collapse (Video)
 

[People News] Hello, everyone, and welcome to 'Hotspot Frontline'. I am Xiaokun.

In today's episode, we will discuss the 'big steward' and 'gatekeeper' of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping: Cai Qi.

On June 15, the CCP held its National Party Building Work Symposium in Beijing for the first time, where it publicly introduced the 'Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building'. This event not only signifies the completion of the 'last piece of the puzzle' in the theoretical framework of Zhongnanhai but also sends a strong signal to the outside world that the CCP's political system is undergoing significant adjustments.

Cai Qi's level of power is indeed exceptional.

Cai Qi, who is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the First Secretary of the Central Secretariat, drew attention at this meeting due to his multiple roles and considerable authority.

According to public records, Cai Qi holds several key positions, including member of the Politburo Standing Committee, First Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Director of the General Office, Vice Chairman of the National Security Commission, Deputy Director of the Deep Reform Commission, Deputy Director of the Central Compilation Commission, Director of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, Secretary of the Working Committee of Central and State Organs, Leader of the Central Party Building Work Leading Group, and Vice Chairman of the Central Comprehensive Law-based Governance Commission (the other two members are Zhao Leji and Li Qiang). In early June, Cai Qi also assumed the role of President of the Central Party School.

Additionally, Cai Qi oversees party affairs, propaganda, and the national deployment of the special department, the Central Social Work Department.

Cai Qi's power is remarkably significant, particularly in light of Xi Jinping's profound distrust of both the party and the military. Xi has entrusted Cai with responsibilities related to personal security, the ideological gatekeeping of the entire party, and the career trajectories of officials. This reflects Xi's intense pursuit of 'absolute security' and 'absolute loyalty' in the current politically challenging environment. He perceives Cai Qi as a 'trusted confidant who does not require monitoring against power usurpation but can be granted extensive authority to implement a hardline agenda.'

Reuters previously cited Mittershnait, a Chinese affairs expert at the University of Zurich, who noted that 'Xi has centralized the organization, discourse, and administrative functions of the Communist Party entirely in the hands of one Politburo Standing Committee member (Cai Qi),' describing this arrangement as 'unprecedented.'

Despite ranking fifth within the Chinese Communist Party, Cai Qi is viewed by outsiders as Xi Jinping's 'chief steward' and 'top gatekeeper.' The Economist considers him the second-in-command with actual power.

Analysis: Cai Qi resembles Xi Jinping's personal steward.

Canadian senior commentator Sheng Xue told The Epoch Times that Cai Qi's power is extraordinarily vast, even extending into Xi Jinping's private military. Cai Qi played a crucial role when Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia was arrested. Additionally, Cai Qi may hold some more private, functional roles that are not necessarily disclosed through the standard channels of the Communist Party system.

She stated that Xi Jinping lacks a clear stance on many issues and is suspicious of numerous individuals, which leads him to rely heavily on Cai Qi, treating him not only as a political ally but also as a very close confidant. In fact, Xi Jinping has transitioned from being hands-on during his previous two terms to a model where he can take a step back and guide from behind the scenes. Cai Qi functions more as Xi Jinping's personal steward rather than as a potential successor to the Chinese Communist Party.

However, Sheng Xue argues that Cai Qi does not project a positive image, either domestically or internationally. For instance, in 2017, he was ruthless in his efforts to 'clean up the low-end population' in Beijing. While he may seem to be assisting Xi Jinping in consolidating power, he is, in fact, helping Xi Jinping to create adversaries. 'Ultimately, this has transformed Xi Jinping into an increasingly isolated and closed-off dictator. From this perspective, Cai Qi is indeed aiding Xi Jinping in digging a grave for the Communist Party's rule.'

Cai Qi is a ruthless official.

Within the spectrum of officials in the Chinese Communist Party, Cai Qi exemplifies a typical ruthless official who 'prefers the left over the right, adheres to absolute obedience, and executes political will with an iron fist.' His ascent from the grassroots levels in Fujian and Zhejiang to the core of power in Zhongnanhai is attributed to his unwavering loyalty to Xi Jinping and his iron-fisted approach to policy implementation, regardless of the consequences and at any cost.

Overseas commentators often liken Cai Qi to modern versions of 'Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen,' both of whom were infamous ruthless officials during the Tang Dynasty. Several notorious cases from Cai Qi's administration in Beijing continue to serve as 'cruel' symbols that instill fear among both the public and officials in China.

Case One: The unprecedented 'clearing of the low-end population.'

This incident marks the most controversial and notorious case of cold-bloodedness in Cai Qi's political career.

On November 18, 2017, a fire erupted at the Jufuyuan Apartment in Beijing's Daxing District, a location heavily populated by migrant workers, resulting in the tragic loss of 19 lives. At that time, Cai Qi had just assumed the role of Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee. Rather than opting for comfort, relief, and improvements in fire safety, he chose to turn this disaster into a political campaign—seizing the opportunity to forcibly clear and expel 'migrant workers' from Beijing. These workers were derogatorily labeled as 'low-end population' by Cai Qi and the authorities.

In the process of expelling these migrant workers, the Beijing authorities resorted to brutal enforcement tactics. Without any resettlement plans or transitional periods in place, the municipal government ordered a comprehensive inspection to be conducted within 40 days. At that time, Beijing was experiencing severe winter conditions, with temperatures plummeting below freezing. The law enforcement teams, referred to as 'black security guards' by the public, stormed into rental properties, cutting off water and electricity, and violently destroying belongings. This forced hundreds of thousands of delivery workers, cleaners, and low-level laborers, who were striving to make a living in Beijing, to take to the streets with their blankets and luggage, being expelled from the city overnight.

During this period, a video of Cai Qi's speech at an internal meeting was leaked, provoking widespread outrage. In the video, Cai Qi sternly addressed his subordinates, stating: 'When it comes to the grassroots, it must be with real knives and guns, it must be bloody, it must solve problems, and it must implement responsibilities. If you do not take hard measures, that is irresponsible to the Party and the people!'

Public opinion widely holds that this speech has starkly revealed the indifference and arrogance of high-ranking officials in the Chinese Communist Party towards the survival and welfare of the lower-class population. In public discussions and political commentary, Cai Qi has been labeled as a 'contemporary tyrant' and 'cold-blooded bureaucrat,' with some even likening his harsh expulsion tactics to historical persecutions of displaced individuals and political oppression.

Case Two: The drastic 'Skyline Movement.'

In an effort to create the 'clean, grand, and upscale' image of the capital envisioned by Xi Jinping, Cai Qi launched a frenzied 'clearing of building skylines' campaign in Beijing while expelling low-end populations. Within just a few months, over 27,000 rooftop signs and plaques were removed from buildings throughout the city. This included everything from the century-old renowned brand 'Quanjude' (全聚德) to the iconic Central Television Station, China National Geographic magazine, and even the signs of hospitals and schools; any sign that exceeded the skyline was forcibly removed.

This campaign nearly paralyzed the entire city of Beijing. It caused the streets to lose their recognizability overnight, with ambulances unable to locate hospitals and visitors unable to find their way. Ultimately, due to a tidal wave of criticism from both domestic and international public opinion, coupled with collective resistance from within the government, this movement came to a swift and farcical conclusion.

Case Three: The 'absolute lockdown' during the Beijing Winter Olympics and the zero-COVID policy.

During the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the subsequent extreme 'dynamic zero-COVID' measures, Cai Qi, as the highest commander of epidemic prevention and control in Beijing, once again showcased his iron-fisted approach, regardless of the impact on people's livelihoods.

To ensure that the Beijing Winter Olympics serves as a political highlight for Xi Jinping, Cai Qi has implemented the most stringent "pop-up window policy" in the country. This policy employs the Beijing Health Code to enforce lockdowns through big data. As a result, countless residents of Beijing who travel for business, visit family, or seek medical care find themselves indefinitely barred from returning home once they leave the city due to the "pop-up window" restrictions.

Under Cai Qi's heavy-handed approach, grassroots officials across various districts in Beijing have intensified lockdown measures to protect their positions, leading to tragic incidents where individuals have died because they could not receive timely medical care due to excessive pandemic prevention measures.

Is Cai Qi tied to Xi in a "community of shared destiny"?

Despite his poor reputation, why does Cai Qi continue to rise in power, even gaining further control over key institutions such as the Central Party School and the General Office by 2026?

When political analysts and commentators examine the relationship between Cai Qi and Xi Jinping, they often use terms like "blind loyalty," "sycophancy," or "lackey." This perception has been reinforced, especially after Cai Qi publicly lauded Xi Jinping's works as a "spiritual lighthouse" and his thoughts as a "stabilizing force," leading many to view Cai Qi as Xi's "die-hard loyal servant."

However, if we analyze Cai Qi's actions through the frameworks of international political science, the history of the Chinese Communist Party, and the power dynamics of totalitarian regimes, attributing his behavior solely to "ignorant loyalty" underestimates his political savvy. Cai Qi's "loyalty" to Xi Jinping is rooted in a calculated allegiance and absolute obedience aimed at ensuring his political survival and maximizing his power.

Cai Qi's authority is derived from Xi Jinping's 'personal bestowal' rather than from local achievements or endorsements from party factions. Thus, it can be said that Cai Qi and Xi Jinping share a profound 'community of shared destiny'. His 'loyalty' stems not from foolish blind faith, but from the fact that he has no political alternative other than to remain absolutely loyal to Xi Jinping.

Cai Qi acts as a 'gatekeeper' for Xi Jinping, focusing solely on the higher echelons and ignoring those below. This suggests that with Cai Qi overseeing the cadre review for next year's 20th National Congress, the internal purge within the Communist Party of China (CPC) is likely to be even more 'bloody' than anticipated.

Is Cai Qi facing a scenario where 'when the wall falls, everyone pushes'? 

Currently, Cai Qi holds several significant positions; he is effectively the 'grand steward' within the existing system and the actual operator of daily power dynamics. He also serves as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Observers widely believe that his fate is intricately 'politically bound' to Xi Jinping's authority.

If there is a transition in the highest leadership, could Cai Qi's fate be grim?

Historically within the CPC, trusted aides who oversee party affairs, confidential matters, and security are often the most feared and despised targets by internal opposition and rival factions. Should the political climate change, or if Cai Qi's patron Xi Jinping loses his position as the top leader, the newly empowered factions or opposition alliances may first target these 'core operators' as a direct means to repudiate the previous leadership's policies and reassure the public.

For instance, during the Lin Biao era, the 'Four Great Kings' or certain past political groups would quickly collapse once they lost their core.

Cai Qi's political ascent is a classic example of a 'rocket-like rise.' He transitioned from a local official in Fujian and Zhejiang to a key figure in Beijing, ultimately jumping to the Politburo Standing Committee during the 20th National Congress. Each of his significant promotions has been directly attributed to Xi Jinping's unwavering trust, rather than his economic performance or a strong factional base within the party.

Moreover, Cai Qi has made many enemies within the party and has few allies, particularly during his time governing Beijing, where he aggressively enforced policies like the removal of the 'low-end population,' leading to significant social and institutional controversies. Should he lose the protection of the highest authority, Cai Qi might find himself in a situation where 'the wall falls, and everyone pushes,' with no influential faction willing to offer him political support or protection.

Cai Qi's future hinges entirely on how Xi Jinping 'loses the highest leadership.' If the transition is abnormal and confrontational, Cai Qi, as a central figure of the 'Xi family army,' is likely to become a primary target for political purges, facing a grim fate that could range from complete sidelining under strict surveillance to potential imprisonment on political or corruption charges.

In the context of the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian regime, 'the greater the power, the deeper the binding; the closer to the core, the higher the risk.' Cai Qi's current influence decisively limits his options in any future political upheaval.

If you have any thoughts on Cai Qi's potential fate, please feel free to share in the comments section.

Thank you for watching, and we look forward to seeing you in the next episode.
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