Before the Chinese New Year, the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping visited Liaoning in Northeast China, creating an illusion that Xi is “deeply loved by the people” by state media. However, a former official revealed that the security measures behind Xi’s grassroots inspections were rather astonishing, making Xi seem like he was entering enemy territory. Just three days after Xi left Liaoning, an explosion occurred in a shopping mall he had just inspected. Scholars cited internal sources from within the CCP, suggesting that China’s social crisis is rapidly transforming into a political crisis.
According to reports by Xinhua News Agency, from January 22nd to 24th, Xi Jinping, accompanied by his confidants Cai Qi and He Lifeng, visited Zhujiagou Village in Mingshui Manchu Township of Suizhong County, Huludao City, and Chang’an Community in Chang’an Street, Dadong District, Shenyang. State media focused on the festive scenes and interactions between Xi and the “people”.
Recent remarks by Du Wen, the former deputy director of the Legal Advisory Office of Inner Mongolia’s Legal System, revealed that Xi Jinping’s so-called “people-friendly” gestures were meticulously orchestrated political shows, with an elaborate security system indicating Xi’s extreme sensitivity, even fear, towards security issues.
Du Wen pointed out that Xi’s visits to rural areas in Benxi, Liaoning, were portrayed by official propaganda as Xi fearlessly enjoying time with the masses despite the severe cold. However, a closer look reveals that these scenes were meticulously planned and rehearsed. The public was strictly instructed to keep their distance, and local security personnel kept the crowd at a great distance to ensure Xi Jinping’s safety and image remain undisturbed. These inspections, on the surface, aimed to bring Xi closer to the people but, in reality, turned into grand stability maintenance mobilizations, bordering on quasi-military operations.
Reflecting on his personal experiences during his time in government, Du Wen mentioned the stringent security measures implemented during Hu Jintao’s travels, divided into three levels: outer defense, middle defense, and inner close protection, with considerations for three dimensions: air, land, and underground. Du Wen’s former colleagues within the government claimed that Xi Jinping’s security measures have intensified significantly compared to the strict measures during Hu Jintao’s era, scrutinizing every detail to ensure complete security.
Prior to Xi Jinping’s travels, the central and local authorities would initiate rigorous security plans several months in advance, conducting comprehensive inspections on everything from the buildings and furniture along the route to the air quality and environment. Even the large trees along Xi’s route had to undergo multiple security checks.
Du Wen gave an example of a 600-year-old ancient tree that was transplanted overnight to a designated location before Xi Jinping’s visit, but due to inadequate stability standards, it was relocated again overnight. Such arrangements not only cost labor and resources but also impose immense pressure on local governments.
In July 2019, during Xi Jinping’s so-called research in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, the designated research location included under a large locust tree in a farmhouse. Despite the scorching heat in July, Xi was to chat with villagers under the tree, with the village cadre who introduced the situation to the villagers and the villagers chatting around Xi Jinping all being “actors”. Villagers were carefully selected and rigorously trained through systematic drills to ensure a flawless performance; the village cadre was a well-spoken National People’s Congress representative borrowed from a village tens of miles away—a middle-aged woman in her forties.
To prevent drone disturbances, each of Xi Jinping’s visits designated a no-fly zone covering several kilometers and deployed anti-drone equipment. Drones entering the restricted area were to be shot down directly. In addition, helicopters standby to ensure they could arrive at the mission area within five minutes.
Local public security departments and security agencies conduct screenings on individuals who might create “unstable factors” before Xi Jinping’s visit. This includes people who have expressed critical views, or ordinary residents with politically sensitive speech records. These individuals are often required to “travel” or have their movements restricted, or even face direct detention.
Du Wen sarcastically pointed out that even CCP insiders have criticized Xi Jinping’s preventive measures. Wherever Xi Jinping goes now, it no longer seems like he is on his own soil but more like he has stepped into enemy territory, with those “crowd actors” appearing as if they are his targets for precaution.
In conclusion, Du Wen emphasized that Xi Jinping’s “grassroots inspection” is not just a false political performance; the elaborate security system behind it represents a massive waste of resources. He believes that such fear and precautionary mindset precisely reflect Xi Jinping’s anxiety and insecurity as the highest leader of the Chinese Communist Party.
In a rare move, state media captured Xi Jinping on January 23 among the crowd at the Dadong Sub-Food Market in Shenyang. Many bodyguards were visible among the crowd.
Analyst Li Lin previously told Dajiyuan that since Xi emphasizes promoting the “bright economic theory” to suppress the downturn, local officials also comply by organizing “crowd actors” for performances. It is believed that various units were informed beforehand to select “elite” customers to interact and lead the leader, ensuring flawless security and letting the leader have some “people-friendly” experiences, which were all fake. This can deceive foreigners.
Just three days after Xi Jinping left the Dadong Sub-Food Market in Shenyang, an intense explosion occurred on the street outside the market on the afternoon of the 26th. Videos showed many people bleeding and lying on the ground, some running in panic, and even vehicles severely damaged.
Radio Free Asia reported that by comparing the explosion footage provided by netizens and the footage by CCTV, it can be seen that Xi Jinping had been approximately 50 meters from the explosion site waving to the people.
Due to the official censorship by the CCP, the motive behind this explosion and the number of casualties remain unclear to this day. However, the fact that the explosion happened right after Xi’s departure inevitably triggers speculation.
Speaking to Dajiyuan in a recent interview, overseas scholar Yuan Hongbing revealed that a source within the CCP system informed him that since the 20th National Congress of the CCP, particularly starting from 2024, the mainland is experiencing a transition from societal crisis to political crisis.
Yuan Hongbing stated that it’s known that Xi Jinping issued the first order in 2025 specifically targeting the Public Security Bureau, demanding that “the prompt and resolute cracking of significant political cases will be a top priority of public security work.” It was reported that within three days before and after New Year’s Day in 2025, flyers calling for an armed overthrow of Xi Jinping’s dictatorship began appearing in university campuses in major cities like Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, and Guangzhou. The flyers were signed by the “China Democratic Revolution Party.”
Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote an article in the Taiwanese newspaper “Shang Bao” on January 22, stating that the CCP fears armed uprisings within the military the most. According to a friend with relatives in a certain military district in Guangdong, the CCP’s military morale is unstable, with officers and soldiers dissatisfied. Some officers are considering emulating the Wuchang Uprising and planning for a suitable time to act.