On March 9th, a commentary writer known as “New Highlands” posted an article on the X platform, stating that, according to an email from a retired senior official on the Chinese mainland, during the 2026 Chinese New Year, while visiting former leader Liu Jie (the Governor of Zhejiang Province) in Hangzhou, the official straightforwardly asked, “Is there a big event happening in Beijing? After Zhang Youxia was arrested, military vehicles have been frequently seen moving north on the highways.”
In response, Liu Jie retorted on the spot, “Are you all hoping for Xi Jinping to have trouble every day? What kind of world is this? Almost every day, someone asks me if something is happening in Beijing… As retired senior officials, you shouldn’t always be prying into these matters…”
“New Highlands” pointed out that the brief private New Year’s conversation reflects the fear, opportunism, loyalty, and interests tied together deep within the Communist Party’s officialdom in 2026. And Liu Jie, who made these remarks, is one of the most typical representatives of the post-70s officials in the Xi era.
Public information shows that Liu Jie, born in January 1970 in Danyang, Jiangsu Province, was formerly the General Manager of Xiangtan Iron and Steel Group. In 2008, at the age of 38, he was appointed as the Director of Hunan Business Department, becoming the youngest provincial-level department director at that time. Later, he served as the Mayor and Party Secretary of Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province, Secretary-General of Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee, Guizhou Provincial Committee Member and Minister of Organization. In 2021, he was transferred to Zhejiang Province, serving as a member of the Provincial Party Committee, Party Secretary of Hangzhou City; in 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; in December 2024, he became Acting Governor, and in January 2025, he was officially elected as the Governor of Zhejiang Province, also being a candidate member of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party.
Due to the Chinese Communist Party’s strict control over public opinion, the authenticity of the above “New Year’s conversation” cannot be confirmed at present.
Commentator Li Linyi stated that in this “New Year’s conversation”, Liu Jie’s old subordinates turned out to be retired senior officials, as Liu Jie became a leader at a young age, it was normal for his subordinates to be ten years older than him and therefore already retired. However, if the conversation is accurate, these senior officials would not hold high-ranking positions, such as those below the level of bureau or deputy bureau chief.
As early as May 15, 2022, the Xi Jinping regime issued a document through the Central Committee emphasizing strengthening political discipline among retired cadres and demanded that they “refrain from making arbitrary comments on the Party’s major political principles.”
Nevertheless, over the past two years, there have been frequent reports of discussions among retired Communist Party officials about Xi Jinping, and even expressions of dissatisfaction.
In early 2023, the Chinese Communist authorities suddenly abandoned the zero-COVID policy, leading to a tsunami-like spread of the virus in China, overcrowded hospitals, long lines at crematoriums, and many deceased Communist Party officials. Information obtained by the Epoch Times at that time indicated that retired military officials were privately criticizing Xi Jinping as having gone astray.
During the Chinese Communist Party’s secretive retreat in Beidaihe in 2024, there were numerous rumors on the internet about Xi Jinping falling ill and changes happening in Zhongnanhai. At that time, a retired professor from Renmin University of China and former Communist Party official, Leng Jifu, issued an open letter to two Vice Chairmen of the Military Commission, Zhang Youxia and He Waidong, proposing the establishment of the Republic of China Association and calling for the Communist Party to withdraw. In his letter, Leng Jifu mentioned hearing on WeChat that Xi Jinping was seriously ill and unable to work, leaving all party, government, and military affairs in the hands of Zhang Youxia and He Waidong, so he hoped that the two would support this proposal.
Last year, independent commentator Du Zheng disclosed to the Taiwanese media “Up Media” that an unnamed retired Communist Party senior official criticized Xi and the Communist Party, stating, “When that person (Xi) first came to power, people still had some hope for him, now no one says he’s good, they all curse him, people are hoping for the Communist Party to collapse!”