At this year’s opening ceremony of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Chairman Wang Huning, after delivering his speech, bowed and greeted Party leader Xi Jinping as he returned to his seat, sparking online mockery from overseas netizens who likened the Standing Committee to a “master-slave system.” Moreover, during the meeting, there were frequent occurrences of passing notes among high-ranking officials, leading to speculation.
On March 4th at the CPPCC’s opening ceremony, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC traditionally sat in the front row, while other members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee sat in the second row. Xi Jinping’s seat was directly behind Wang Huning.
Video footage from the event showed Wang Huning returning to his seat after speaking on stage. As he briefly paused when passing in front of Xi Jinping on the right, his hands hanging down, he bowed and greeted Xi. Xi nodded slightly in response. Only then did Wang return to his seat.
The video clip of this encounter circulated on overseas platforms. Netizens mockingly commented: “A classic master and servant display,” “Unable to help it, the Zhang Yuxia incident must have scared him,” “Although Wang has been a senior advisor for three dynasties… despite his higher position now, his submissive nature seems more prominent, perhaps beyond his control.”
Commentator Cai Shunkun posted that, after delivering his report, Wang Huning bowed to Xi Jinping, which in the highly symbolic context of CCP politics, was not just a gesture of courtesy but a public declaration of submission.
Additionally, at the CPPCC’s opening session, the scene of passing notes unexpectedly became a focus of attention.
Footage captured by Hong Kong’s “Ming Pao” and “Nikkei Asia” showed CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning conversing multiple times with Xi Jinping seated on his left after listening to Premier Li Keqiang’s work report. Subsequently, Wang appeared to relay a message to Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang seated on his right, who then passed the message to Vice President Han Zheng.
Shortly after, Wang Huning seemed to have a matter to discuss with State Councilor Chen Yixin seated in the back row, and he asked the CCTV cameraman moving back and forth on the podium to help pass a note to her. Later, Wang also passed a note with four lines of text written horizontally to Xi Jinping, who, after reading it, exchanged a few words with Wang before returning the note.
Amidst the ongoing large-scale purge within the CCP, these high-ranking officials’ “game of passing messages” has sparked speculation among observers.