Hello everyone, welcome to “News Discussion”. I am Fuyao, today is December 2, Monday.
Today’s focus: Cai Qi’s son arrested? Who holds military power between Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia? Changes in Zhongnanhai, unexpected leaks from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television; the military has been launching rockets mysteriously for several days!
Our guests for this episode are: Wang Juntao, Co-Chair of the National Committee of the China Democratic Party and Ph.D. in Political Science at Columbia University; Tang Jingyuan, host of “Jingyuan Forum”; Qin Peng, current affairs commentator and senior political and economic analyst.
Yesterday, there was news circulating online that Cai Qi’s son, Cai Erjin, was taken away by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. There were also reports alleging that Cai Qi’s son was involved in a mysterious car accident, possibly an “assassination”. These reports coincide with recent changes in Zhongnanhai.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense recently confirmed that Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department, is suspected of serious disciplinary violations and has been suspended pending investigation. However, they denied reports from the UK media, the Financial Times, regarding an investigation into Defense Minister Dong Jun for alleged corruption.
With Miao Hua, a close ally of Xi Jinping, under investigation, some believe this symbolizes Xi Jinping’s weakening grip on power. Since the Third Plenum of this year, there have been constant rumors about Xi Jinping’s health, senior military official Zhang Youxia replacing him, and power struggles within the party.
However, some also believe that on July 9, Xi Jinping promoted He Hongjun, Deputy Director of the Political Department of the Central Military Commission, to the rank of general, indicating Xi Jinping no longer trusts Miao Hua and already has his replacement lined up.
So, what is the truth? As we approach the end of 2024, who truly holds military power between Xi Jinping and Zhang Youxia?
Let’s ask Mr. Wang Juntao, what are your thoughts on Miao Hua being investigated, do you think it’s orchestrated by whom?
Mr. Tang Jingyuan, if this indeed originates from Zhang Youxia, what signs can we observe next to confirm this?
Mr. Qin Peng, with Miao Hua under investigation, is this a signal from the “anti-Xi” faction or Zhang Youxia and the elders to start a major purge of Xi Jinping’s loyalists? What consequences might this lead to?
Mr. Wang Juntao, what is the decisive factor in the final showdown between Xi and Zhang? Can Xi Jinping still “counterattack” effectively, does he have trustworthy allies left?
Mr. Tang Jingyuan, in the past few years, officials were ousted due to being “disloyal to Xi”. Has the reason for being ousted now shifted to being “too loyal to Xi”?
The power struggle in Zhongnanhai has intensified, accompanied by two peculiar phenomena.
One is in the propaganda sphere.
The mainland media, Beijing Daily, reported that the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television held a “Symposium on Managing Online Live Streaming Programs”.
Attendees included: the Ministry of Commerce’s E-Commerce Department, provincial radio and television bureaus from Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, the China Network Audiovisual Program Service Association, online live streaming platforms such as Douyin, Kuaishou, and various MCN (Multi-Channel Network) agencies like Mango MCN, Henan Elephant MCN, Worry-Free Media, and several live streaming platforms.
In addition to learning about “Xi Jinping Thought” and addressing issues like content manipulation, the emphasis was on online live streaming programs avoiding “touching the harmful red lines”, particularly in politics.
Let’s ask Mr. Qin Peng, regarding the urging of platforms and online hosts to “elevate their political stance”, does this correlate with the current “Zhongnanhai changes”? Why the strict requirements on propaganda during this time, and could this lead to further upheavals?
On the other hand, within the military.
Beijing recently announced the “Joint Sword-2024B” military exercises around Taiwan. Xi Jinping visited Zhangzhou and Xiamen in Fujian, talking about “cross-strait integration”. Xi visited Dongshan Island, strategically located at the site of Taiwan’s final large-scale counterattack against the mainland.
At the same time as the seismic events within the Chinese military, the Chinese Maritime Bureau issued a statement over the weekend, announcing multiple days of rocket launches from November 30 to December 2, with rocket debris expected to fall into parts of the South China Sea.
Mr. Wang Juntao, with the recent collapse of the Chinese political regime, is the military shifting attention with these actions?
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