On October 22, 2026, the official website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party announced the downfall of Xia Linmao, a member of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and Deputy Mayor. Xia Linmao, a graduate of Tsinghua University, was once promoted by a prominent figure from Tsinghua. He had a long career in the Beijing government, with connections to high-ranking officials such as Cai Qi, Wang Qishan, Liu Qi, and Chen Jin. Xia Linmao’s downfall on the eve of the Fifth Plenary Session has drawn significant attention.
Two days before Xia Linmao’s official downfall announcement, on October 20, 2026, commentator Cai Shenkun disclosed on Platform X that there were rumors circulating online about Xia Linmao being promoted to the position of Mayor of Beijing. However, Cai revealed that on October 19, Xia Linmao was taken away by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and this time it was an official investigation involving a search of his home, unlike the inquiry in 2025.
On March 26, 2026, commentator Jiang Wangzheng had exposed that Xia Linmao was investigated during his training at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China. Xia Linmao had been rumored to be under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection back in March, but he made public appearances afterwards. However, he disappeared again between late April and May of 2026, missing important events within the Beijing Municipal Party Committee.
According to public records, Xia Linmao, born in May 1970 in Jianhu County, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, attended Tsinghua University from 1988 to 1993, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree. He was a junior schoolmate of Hu Jintao, the former head of the Communist Party of China, at Tsinghua University. Xia Linmao continued his education while working under Chen Xi, a prominent figure affiliated with Tsinghua, and obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from Tsinghua University.
Xia Linmao’s connections within the political landscape of Beijing were extensive. He held various positions during different officials’ tenures, ranging from the Mayor of Beijing, Wang Qishan’s administration to the education sector under Chen Jining. Xia Linmao’s activities and connections intertwined with prominent figures in the Beijing government, such as Chen Jin’s protégé and current Shanghai Municipal Party Secretary.
The downfall of Xia Linmao, following a series of investigations and arrests of high-ranking officials, signifies a period of turbulence within the political arena in Beijing. The connections between Xia Linmao and various individuals involved in corruption cases and investigations further deepen the complexity of the situation.
Amidst the upcoming Fifth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party, scheduled from October 26 to 29, the intense scrutiny and downfall of several officials reflect the ongoing power struggles at the higher echelons of the Communist Party. Xia Linmao’s downfall, in the context of the sensitive pre-plenum period, raises questions about the dynamics of power play and influence within the Party’s leadership.
As the political landscape in Beijing continues to shift, the repercussions of Xia Linmao’s downfall on current leaders like Cai Qi, as well as potential successors like Yin Li and Chen Jinning, remain to be seen. The ongoing power struggles and intrigues leading up to the upcoming Party Congress warrant further attention and analysis.