On February 6th, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping made a customary appearance to visit the retired veteran cadres of the troops stationed in Beijing. Only one senior military official, General Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, accompanied him. Internet users mocked that the number of officials accompanying Xi has decreased year by year. With the recent downfall of Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Zhang Xiaye and Commission Member Liu Zhenli, the outside world describes the Chinese Communist Party’s Military Commission as being essentially destroyed, and Xi Jinping has been given a new nickname of the “Destroyer.”
According to a report from China Central Television, a cultural performance celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year was held on February 6th at the China Theatre for the retired veteran cadres stationed in Beijing, with Xi Jinping in attendance to watch the show. The report stated that “Zhang Shengmin watched the performance together.”
Despite efforts to portray a harmonious image of Xi Jinping’s activities, the decreasing presence of high-ranking military officials accompanying him has raised speculation and fueled rumors about power struggles within the Communist Party’s military leadership. The sudden downfall of key figures within the military ranks has led to doubts about the stability and unity within the military establishment under Xi’s leadership.
Critics point to Xi Jinping’s tightening grip on power and his consolidation of authority within the military as potentially isolating himself from dissenting voices and undermining the principle of collective leadership within the Communist Party. The diminishment of trusted allies and the rise of new nicknames like the “Destroyer” reflect growing discontent and disillusionment with Xi’s leadership style among both the public and political elites.
As Xi Jinping continues to navigate the complex dynamics of political power and control within the Chinese Communist Party, his actions and decisions are under increasing scrutiny both domestically and internationally. The evolving narrative of Xi’s leadership, from a strongman figure to a potentially divisive force within his own party, highlights the challenges and uncertainties facing China under his rule.