In recent years, news about the Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping being sidelined and stripped of power has been circulating. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun initially maintained a cautious attitude towards these reports, but he recently revealed that a person with “some influence” in China claimed that Xi Jinping has now been completely stripped of power and is only awaiting an official announcement of his resignation. It is said that the power within the CCP has returned to three elderly figures born in 1942, with military authority under the control of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia.
On February 23, Cai Shenkun mentioned in his self-media program that he received a phone call from a friend in China who has significant influence and close ties with current and former leaders. Since the Third Plenum of the CCP held last July, rumors have been rampant about Xi Jinping’s health issues, diminished military authority, weakening of his power within the Party, and being criticized by Party elders during a meeting in Beidaihe. At that time, Cai Shenkun believed Xi Jinping still held substantive power.
According to the latest information shared by Cai Shenkun, his friend informed him that since the CCP’s military and political work conference in Yan’an last year, Xi Jinping’s power has significantly waned. It was conveyed that for Xi Jinping, stepping down is just a matter of time before it is officially announced, with the official announcement not expected to be delayed for long, possibly taking place at the Fourth Plenum and at the latest, not extending into next year.
This friend also disclosed that the current military authority within the CCP now rests in the hands of Zhang Youxia, diminishing the significance of other figures, with Xi Jinping merely retaining a titular position as the Chairman of the Military Commission.
Furthermore, the power within the CCP has reportedly reverted to three elderly individuals born in 1942. Both Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao were born in the same year. Cai Shenkun refrained from disclosing the identity of these three individuals to avoid any repercussions on them.
Cai Shenkun’s friend indicated that over the past decade, Xi Jinping has alienated various political factions, including the “Princelings,” “Red Second Generation,” and even the vested interest groups associated with the “Zhao family.” During the Third Plenum last year, there was a consensus within the Party that if Xi Jinping continued his actions unchecked, leading to a possible dead-end for everyone, it was crucial to prevent his re-election. Thus, the three elderly figures were selected to oversee the political situation in China during the transitional period.
The friend further highlighted the apprehension within the CCP about the vested interest groups, fearing their dominance in the post-Xi era. These privileged groups have amassed assets worth trillions of dollars through decades of reforms and collaborations with Wall Street tycoons, with their assets now surpassing $60 trillion.
It should be noted that Epoch Times cannot independently verify these reports and data. Cai Shenkun emphasized that he only shared the general information he had heard without any specific evidence to support the claims.
Since 2023, a significant number of party, government, and military officials groomed by Xi Jinping have been removed from their positions, sparking discussions regarding Xi’s judgment in selecting personnel and the potential impact on his authority.
During the Second Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee in 2024 and the Beidaihe meeting in August, retired professor at Renmin University of China, Leng Jifu, publicly called for the CCP to voluntarily step down and establish the Republic of China as a democratic constitutional monarchy.
Leng Jifu also indicated through WeChat that Xi Jinping was seriously ill and unable to perform his duties, with the overall responsibilities falling on Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, and He Weidong, seeking their support.
Following the Beidaihe meeting last year, on August 19, Xi Jinping made his first public appearance to welcome the visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Su Lin. Curiously, Xi’s close-up footage was absent from the morning reception and the subsequent meetings, with the official Chinese media only releasing his close-up images in the afternoon and evening. The Vietnamese side, however, promptly released group photos, sparking speculations.
Images circulating online purportedly showed Xi Jinping post-brain surgery, adding to the existing speculations. Additionally, the scheduled Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee, which was supposed to convene in the fall of 2024, has been delayed and remains pending.
Former PLA Navy Senior Colonel Yao Cheng previously revealed to Epoch Times that by the time of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee, Xi Jinping’s position was sure to be jeopardized, likely retaining only an honorary position. Xi Jinping might step down from the General Secretary and Chairman of the Military Commission roles, holding onto a nominal presidency to avert further turmoil and eventually planning his retirement during the 21st CCD National Congress.
On January 16 this year, senior contributor to Nikkei Asia, Keizaku Nakazawa, highlighted the escalated factional struggles within the CCP recently. With the upcoming decisions on the next leadership lineup, a potential political storm is brewing in Beijing.