Yuan Hongbing: Xi Faces Three Major Political Crises

Rumors of power struggles within the senior Communist Party leadership continue to persist, with increasingly intense tensions, putting party leader Xi Jinping in a precarious political crisis. According to insider sources within the system, revelations include the emergence of “grey organizations” in society, the alliance of factions within the party against Xi, and the purge of key figures in the Xi family clan within the military.

Legal scholar Yuan Hongbing studying in Australia cited an internal reference document issued by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security to officials at the provincial and ministerial levels in early April. The document revealed that in the first quarter of 2025, various “grey organizations” such as associations, veteran comrades-in-arms, and mutual aid organizations for migrant workers appeared in large numbers nationwide, causing heightened concern.

It is reported that the Ministry of Public Security emphasized in the reference document: these organizations, in their gatherings, generally displayed dissatisfaction with the current state of Chinese society and the political governance policies. It further warned that if the trade war between China and the United States escalates and the economy further declines, these grey organizations “are likely to transform into political entities with significant harmful effects on social stability.”

Apart from societal concerns, Xi Jinping faces challenges from two major factions within the Communist Party. The two main factions within the Party system, originally in opposing positions, have shown a “rare intersection” in opposing Xi Jinping’s current political line.

Yuan Hongbing told Epoch Times that the “Crown Prince Party” inside the Communist Party, led by Deng Pufang and Chen Yuan, is demanding a return to Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policy. They believe that Xi Jinping has deviated from Deng’s policy of “biding time and nurturing strength” in diplomacy, leading to dual economic and diplomatic crises. They have harshly criticized the policies led by Xi Jinping and are pushing for corrections to the current political line.

The other faction is the ultra-left Mao Zedong ideology faction, which maintains organizational activities through the still legally existing “Red Song Society” and “Mao Zedong ideology research society,” advocating a return to the Cultural Revolution-style policy, criticizing Xi Jinping for “surrendering to imperialism,” and facing the current dilemma as a result.

Although the two factions were originally ideologically opposed, they have formed a certain “strategic alliance” due to their shared rejection of Xi Jinping’s current policies.

Insiders reveal that these two factions are separately preparing significant political documents, expected to be formally publicized before 2026, with the goal of “preventing Xi Jinping from continuing his reelection at the 21st Party Congress” and attempting to seize leadership of the party’s direction.

The most astonishing development occurs within the military. He Weidong, the third figure in the Communist Party’s military, has not appeared publicly since the closing ceremony of the National People’s Congress on March 11. The Financial Times of the UK reported on April 10, citing multiple sources, that He has been removed from his position and has been under investigation. He Weidong, together with former Central Military Commission Political Work Department Director Miao Hua and Xi’s trusted aide Zhong Shaojun, were known as the “iron triangle” within the military.

However, the three individuals are now either under investigation or marginalized, indicating a severe blow to Xi’s foundation within the military.

Miao Hua, who was Xi’s personnel strategist within the military, was put under investigation last November, and the official handling of the situation has not been announced to date.

According to insider sources quoted by Yuan Hongbing, Miao Hua lost control on the first day of detention and confessed frantically all night, revealing over 80 military personnel. With the cooperation of three secretaries, he later exposed up to 1,300 military personnel, including nearly a hundred high-ranking generals such as lieutenant generals and major generals. These officers were mostly promoted by Xi Jinping himself or his close confidants.

Commentator Cai Shenkun recently pointed out on his self-media program that there are two phases to the anti-corruption crackdown within the Communist Party’s military. Initially, it was targeted at Zhang Yuxia; however, after April, all those investigated were close to Xi.

Yuan Hongbing stated that after Xi Jinping heard Miao Hua’s confession, he “turned grey overnight,” indicating that the intensity of the purge of Xi’s military influence far exceeded expectations.