Today’s Focus: Xi Jinping’s close confidants are facing consecutive incidents, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party’s entanglement in a “systemic collapse”; Li Keqiang’s handwritten manuscript has been exposed, revealing the calamity he sowed; Mid-Autumn Festival of Beijing’s migrant workers.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is scheduled to be held in Beijing from October 20th to 23rd. Prior to this, a large number of senior party, government, and military officials have faced incidents or disappeared one after another. Especially within the military, there has been a continuous breakdown of personnel. Many of these missing military leaders are close confidants of Xi Jinping, leading to a rare “double disconnection” in the political and military core of Xi within the military, drawing significant attention from the outside world.
Renowned commentator Hong Yaonan stated in an article in Taiwanese media Newtalk on October 4th that since the 19th Party Congress, senior officials of the CCP have faced successive incidents, with many being investigated, suspended, or simply disappearing. It can be said that the entire CCP system is in a state of “vacancies and replacements” simultaneously, not just isolated incidents but a systemic collapse.
Hong Yaonan pointed out that in recent years, there have been multiple incidents of high-ranking officials within the CCP falling from grace or mysteriously disappearing, especially concentrated in the spheres of foreign affairs and military. Of greater concern is not the downfall of these individuals but the timing and logic of the events. For instance, the treatment of Qin Gang, Li Shangfu, and He Weidong, seen as Xi Jinping’s confidants, is clearly being deliberated. Meanwhile, in the case of non-confidant Liu Jianchao, he was promptly replaced almost immediately after news of his downfall surfaced without any official announcement. This selective handling based on personnel logic has become a fundamental manifestation of the power struggle.
Hong Yaonan emphasized that a rare “double disconnection” phenomenon has emerged in the political and military core of the military. Presently, the power structure of the Military Commission is nearly paralyzed. For example, after Miao Hua fell from grace, the crucial position of “Director of Political Work Department” in the military has long remained vacant. This is not just a personnel vacancy but signifies the loss of the CCP army’s central command in organizational leadership.
Regarding the disappearance of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, the military commission is now solely supported by Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia. However, this concentration of power in one individual may seem stable but harbors inherent risks. Any changes related to Zhang Youxia due to health, political, or trust issues could lead to the immediate breakdown of the military commission’s structure, leaving the military command system in a state of disarray. This also exposes a fatal weakness in the “one-man” political system.
Japanese senior media person Nakazawa Keiji wrote in the Nikkei Asia that due to many high-level military officers being purged, there is currently “pervading fear” within the CCP military. In just the previous month, September, several senior commanders were stripped of their status as national People’s Congress deputies, including Zhang Lin, Minister of the Central Military Commission’s Logistics Support Department, Gao Guang, Political Commissar of the Joint Logistics Support Force, Wang Zhibin, former Political Commissar of the Western Theater Command Army, and Wang Chunning, Commander of the Armed Police Force. He remarked that over the past two years, the officials involved in incidents were mostly close aides of Xi Jinping, especially 62-year-old Wang Chunning, a key figure in Xi Jinping’s “internal security system.” Now, Xi Jinping’s trusted aides within the military have been completely purged, which will inevitably affect the future political landscape of the CCP.
According to Bloomberg statistics, since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, among the senior officers he personally promoted, 14 have either been investigated or disappeared, with a high rate of 17%. This is unprecedented among past CCP leaders. James Char, a scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, pointed out that the continued purging of senior military officials indicates internal turmoil within the CCP and will undoubtedly bring negative consequences.
Regarding the frequent downfall of Xi Jinping’s confidants, some say that Xi’s era is coming to an end, while others believe that it is due to Xi’s personal intervention.
Qin Jin, Chairman of the Democratic China Front, commented, “Who would willingly cut off their own left arm and right arm? The CCP operates in secrecy, and only when the cards are revealed with a ‘slap’ will one know. However, based on analysis, it is impossible for Xi Jinping, after consolidating his power, to then chop off his trusted aides, this is an implausible scenario.”
Independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s Upmedia, that those elevated by Xi Jinping are falling one after another, directly weakening Xi Jinping’s authority. Regardless of the reasons for their downfall, at the Fourth Plenary Session, these incidents will become a joke among all central members. For Xi, this is an immense disgrace.
As the Fourth Plenum approaches, the power struggle within the upper echelons of the CCP intensifies. Shanghai entrepreneur and media person Hu Liren revealed, on October 4th in his own media program “Real China”, a handwritten manuscript by former Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang in 2018, after Xi Jinping’s amendment to the constitution.
In the manuscript, Li Keqiang stated, “If any country arbitrarily amends the constitution, it is tantamount to shaking the foundation of the state. Once power loses restraint, social trust will inevitably collapse, and the system will tend toward nothingness.” During the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong’s personal will superseded the system, causing the nation to suffer severe consequences. Amending the constitution by Xi Jinping will plunge society into chaos and fear.
The manuscript revealed that he cast a dissenting vote knowing the ramifications it would bring, mentally preparing himself for the consequences.
The voting referred to is from the National People’s Congress of the 13th session in March 2018. The amendment to the “Constitution of the People’s Republic of China” was passed with 2958 approvals, 2 dissenting votes, 3 abstentions, and 1 invalid vote. The approval rate exceeded 99.7%. With the constitutional amendment, the CCP removed the term limit for the President, enabling Xi Jinping to serve indefinitely, providing constitutional support for his long-term authoritarian rule.
In the manuscript, Li Keqiang expressed his concerns and personal resistance. He mentioned in a private conversation with Xi Jinping that his opposition to the constitutional amendment had angered Xi Jinping, receiving a warning from him. Li Keqiang was aware that opposing the amendment would bring consequences.
Hu Liren stated in his program that since the forced amendment, Xi Jinping has pushed his power to the extreme, prioritizing personal worship above the system. Currently, China’s economy is in full decline, people are suffering, and Xi Jinping uses the so-called “military strength” and “grand military parades” to intimidate the people and the world. He added that Xi Jinping is gradually pushing China towards the brink of war. Simultaneously, Xi Jinping actively aligns with global authoritarian camps, resonating with regimes like Russia, North Korea, and Iran, attempting to forge a dark alliance against world civilization.
Hu Liren also mentioned the sudden death of Li Keqiang. He stated that superficially it was an accident, a mystery. However, people understand that in the ruthless power struggles of the CCP, so-called accidents often serve as a cold disguise. Under the centralized CCP system, those who uphold justice and conscience have never had a place to survive. Li Keqiang was not the first sacrificed victim nor will he be the last.
In July of this year, Hu Liren addressed the cause of Li Keqiang’s death. He believes Li Keqiang may have died from “underwater electrocution.” He mentioned that Li Keqiang left behind a large number of private notes, speech records, and manuscript letters during his lifetime, totaling over five hundred. A portion of these materials has been secretly preserved by one of his close friends. In the future, these manuscripts will be gradually disclosed.
As China’s economy continues to decline, life becomes increasingly tough for the common people. The Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally a time for family reunion and celebration, has become a luxury for those struggling to make ends meet. On this day, they still have to go out to seek a living, even in a first-tier city like Beijing.
Majuqiao in Beijing is a gathering place for day laborers located in the southeast of Beijing’s Sixth Ring Road. Every morning, many workers gather here in the early hours seeking employment.
On this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, October 6th, Central News Agency reported that as early as 3 am, Majuqiao was already bustling with activity.
Around 4 am, groups of workers emerged from alleys. They reside in daily or monthly rental rooms, typically small and cramped spaces with only enough room for sleeping.
A woman waiting to be hired stated that most people here opt for daily rentals, with prices ranging from tens to over sixty yuan.
Of course, not everyone can afford to rent a room. Along the streets, shop fronts, and under bridges, one can see people wrapped in thin blankets or even just a jacket spending the night outside.
Before 5 am, Majuqiao was already crowded with many individuals, mostly between the ages of 35 and 65, predominantly male. When approached for work opportunities, most workers would respond, “I can do anything, what work do you have?”
Here, there are day labor jobs paying between 150 to 180 yuan, as well as positions like “canteen workers for workshops”; there are also construction jobs paying 200 yuan per day.
As daylight broke, nearby intermediary shops began operating, displaying various job advertisements on their walls, including roles in automobile seat production, electronic assembly lines, etc., with hourly wages ranging from 18 to 21 yuan.
Those who found work followed the employers, while those who did not slowly left the area with disappointment.