Recently, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping embarked on a visit to Peru and Brazil. Before his trip, Chinese military media repeatedly emphasized the importance of learning the “spirit of the Central Military Commission political work conference” and mentioned Xi Jinping in each article. However, as Xi Jinping left Beijing, the tone of the military media quickly shifted focus to “learning the spirit of the 20th Central Committee Third Plenum,” no longer mentioning Xi Jinping by name. This subtle shift has sparked attention. Analysts believe that the difference in the articles before and after Xi’s departure reflects the intense power struggle between Xi’s faction and the anti-Xi faction, carrying significant implications.
Xi Jinping is scheduled to attend the APEC Leaders Informal Meeting and the G20 Summit in Peru and Brazil, conducting state visits to both countries. Xi Jinping arrived in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on November 14th, local time.
Before Xi Jinping left Beijing for the visit, the Chinese military media China Liberation Army Daily published an article on November 13th mentioning the Beijing Garrison District conducting a study on the “spirit of the Central Military Commission political work conference.” The article mentioned that after the political work conference of the Central Military Commission, the Garrison District Party Committee promptly organized the study of Xi Jinping’s speech and emphasized the need to further guide officers and soldiers in strengthening their “political loyalty.”
The Central Military Commission political work conference was held in Yan’an, Shaanxi, in June this year, with Xi Jinping attending and giving a speech, while senior military officials were in full attendance.
On November 14th, the Chinese military media continued with an article emphasizing that the PLA Logistics Department’s directly affiliated support battalion also studied Xi Jinping’s speech at the Central Military Commission political work conference. On the same day, an article titled “Treasure Integrity as You Treasure Life” was published, citing Xi Jinping’s speech to CCP members and officials, emphasizing the importance of cherishing integrity and honor.
However, on the second day of Xi Jinping’s arrival in Peru, November 15th, the Chinese military media published an article on the front page about a brigade of the 78th Group Army studying the spirit of the 20th Central Committee Third Plenum, divided into nine sections but without mentioning Xi Jinping by name.
During the 20th Central Committee Third Plenum held in July, rumors about Xi Jinping’s health circulated widely, ranging from health issues to Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party Zhang Youxia initiating a military coup, Xi Jinping being resuscitated after collapsing, to rumors of him having liver cirrhosis and undergoing a liver transplant surgery, with various unconfirmed reports surfacing.
Following the conclusion of the Third Plenum, Xi Jinping’s name appeared only six times in the CCP’s public communique, fewer than the nine mentions in the Second Plenum’s communique. The content of this communique contrasted sharply with the earlier official media praise of Xi Jinping as a “reformer,” with a noticeable decrease in the tone of the praise.
Political analyst Chen Pokong in the U.S. pointed out on November 16th in an interview with Epoch Times reporters that the article published in the Chinese military media on the 15th formed a stark contrast with the three preceding articles. He noted that as Xi Jinping just embarked on his journey from Beijing, there was a shift in the military media’s tone.
Chen Pokong further stated that the nature of the Third Plenum of the CCP differs from the Central Military Commission political work conference – the latter being directed by Xi Jinping while during the Third Plenum, there were widespread rumors of Xi Jinping collapsing due to a stroke, suggesting that the meet wasn’t guided by him. Additionally, he mentioned that the article published on the 15th by the Chinese military media, consisting of nine sections, could have mentioned Xi Jinping according to CCP conventions but chose not to include his name nor the theories proposed by Xi Jinping such as the “strong military ideology.”
Chen Pokong further commented that the article on the 15th mentioning the “78th Group Army” seemed to subtly imply a contrasting shift from earlier articles focusing on studying the spirit of the Central Military Commission political work conference, hinting at a divisive undertone and implicitly reflecting Zhang Youxia’s background. He stated that the content of the military media article displayed a delicate “play of lights and shadows,” reflecting the intense confrontation between Xi’s faction and the anti-Xi faction, with deeper implications behind the articles.
Public records show that Wu Yanan, once served as the commander of the 78th Group Army under the PLA Northern Theater Command, with headquarters located in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. Wu Yanan was promoted to the rank of Major General in July 2014.
In July 2015, Xi Jinping inspected the 16th Group Army. The headquarters of the 16th Group Army is located in Changchun, Jilin Province, and was transferred to the PLA Northern Theater Command in 2016.
In April 2017, following the restructuring of the PLA, Wu Yanan was appointed as the first commander of the 78th Group Army under the PLA Northern Theater Command, ascending to the official rank.
From 2020 till now, Wu Yanan has been reassigned five times, with almost yearly position adjustments. In July 2020, Wu Yanan succeeded Wang Yinfang as the Deputy Commander of the Northern Theater Command and concurrently as the Commander of the Land Forces.
During the winter 2020 reshuffle of military leaders, Wu Yanan was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, also concurrently serving as Vice Commander of National Defense.
In January 2022, Wu Yanan was promoted to the rank of General, making his first appearance as the Commander of the Central Theater Command.
In January 2023, Huang Ming made his first appearance as the Commander of the Central Theater Command, indicating Wu Yanan’s stepping down from the position after serving for just a year, later assuming a role within the organizational work of the Central Military Commission.
Ahead of the PLA’s founding anniversary in 2024, Wu Yanan was appointed as the Commander of the Southern Theater Command, marking his service in the Northern, Central, and Southern Theater Commands.
Independent commentator Xiangyang revealed in a social media post on October 14th that in August this year, personnel adjustments were made in three out of the five PLA theater commands, with General Zhang Youxia acting as the guiding hand behind the scenes.
Xiangyang pointed out that two commanders considered to be close to Xi Jinping – the former Southern Theater Command commander Wang Xiubin and the hastily appointed Commander of the Northern Theater Command and Air Force General Wang Qiang before the 20th Party Congress of the CCP – were both dismissed. They were succeeded by Huang Ming and Wu Yanan, both handpicked by Zhang Youxia during his tenure as the Commander of the Shenyang Military Region.