Recent News Update: The succession of the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, has always been a topic of speculation among the public. There are reports indicating that over 200 “princelings” have jointly written a letter to Xi Jinping, requesting him to improve the training of his successor. Allegedly, the “princelings” wrote the letter to safeguard their interests, but Xi is not likely to easily hand over power to current high-ranking officials.
On November 4th, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed in his self-media program that he received information about over 200 “princelings” collectively petitioning Xi Jinping, expressing the need for further enhancement of the training system for the successor of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state. They emphasized that this political system must not be abandoned.
The “princelings” have stated that their intentions are not to force Xi Jinping, but rather to offer well-intentioned suggestions. They hope that when Xi decides on the future successor, there should be a proper succession system in place. They point out that Xi Jinping is already in his 70s, and reference how Mao Zedong started looking for a successor when he was in his 70s, despite ultimately not successfully passing on the leadership.
Cai Shenkun noted that up to this point, Xi has not shown any signs of selecting a successor. It is clear that these “princelings” are acting out of the protection of the party, political power, or wealth. They believe that they and Xi Jinping are on the same boat, and the stability of the nation must be preserved. Therefore, they felt compelled to write this letter.
According to sources conveying the message, this letter is expected to have a certain impact on Xi Jinping. They emphasize that this is not an act of coercion. If Xi Jinping compromises on this matter, there may be significant changes in the leadership at the upcoming Party Congress. The potential candidates may not necessarily come from the current members of the Political Bureau, Central Committee, or even alternate Central Committee members; instead, they might be individuals from the post-70s or 80s generation.
It is believed that Xi Jinping is wary of handing over power to those born in the 1960s, as he is reluctant to entrust authority to individuals in key positions within the party, government, and military, who have been influenced to varying degrees by senior party figures.
Efforts to verify the authenticity of the above-mentioned information have been inconclusive.
Xi Jinping is set to complete his “triple term” by 2027. After the removal of term limits for the state presidency in 2018, many believe that Xi intends to rule for life. However, recent reports on his health and speculation about his successor have surfaced due to his deteriorating health condition.
Previously, several individuals were speculated to be potential successors, such as Sun Zhengcai, Hu Chunhua, Chen Min’er, and Ding Xuexiang. Sun Zhengcai, the former Party Secretary of Chongqing, was taken down by Xi Jinping on corruption charges before the 19th National Congress, while Hu Chunhua was removed from the Politburo during the 20th Congress, and Chen Min’er faced marginalization.
Ding Shufan, the honorary professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of East Asia, pointed out in a program on NTD that currently, Xi Jinping has not actively sought a successor, and conversely, no one has dared to be his successor. This is because historically, designated successors in the CCP have met unfortunate outcomes.
Succession issues among Chinese Communist leaders have often been accompanied by bloody power struggles. The first-generation leaders, including Mao Zedong, chose successors like Liu Shaoqi, Lin Biao, Wang Hongwen, and Hua Guofeng – all of whom ultimately did not succeed and met tragic ends.
The second-generation leader, Deng Xiaoping, selected Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang as successors, but both were eventually abandoned. Hu Yaobang was forced to resign, and following the Tiananmen Square incident, Zhao Ziyang was forced out and subsequently placed under house arrest by Jiang Zemin until his passing.
After the 20th Congress of the CCP, many of Xi Jinping’s personally appointed senior party and government officials have encountered troubles, the Chinese economy continues to decline, and internal power struggles within the top echelons have intensified.
Independent commentator Du Zheng expressed concerns in a Taiwanese media article, stating that Xi has not adhered to the customary practice of preparing a “Crown Prince,” creating significant uncertainty for the future. In recent years, political turmoil in China has escalated, with the economy facing crisis, and global calls for the end of the CCP growing louder. The party’s extensive wrongdoings have accumulated, raising significant trouble for the regime, indicating that this sinking ship can no longer withstand further turmoil. The time is running out, and when Xi Jinping exits the scene, the entire CCP regime may go down with him.