On February 15, 2025, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping reiterated his stance on the so-called anti-corruption struggle. He emphasized that there are no “get out of jail free cards” and no “iron hat kings.” Analysts believe that in the current political environment, the figure who could be seen as the “iron hat king” might be Zhang Youxia, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China. Some views suggest that Xi Jinping may not necessarily be referring to a specific individual, but his statement highlights signs of his weakening power and reflects the ongoing power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party.
Xi Jinping addressed the issue of corruption within the Party during a speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on January 6. He acknowledged that corruption still persists within the Communist Party of China, stating that “no matter how high one’s position is or how great one’s contributions, there will be no tolerance for corruption.” He once again brought up the phrases “no ‘get out of jail free cards,’ no ‘iron hat kings,’ and no so-called ‘safety deposit boxes.'”
The term “iron hat king” refers to the hereditary titles of the kings in the Qing Dynasty who did not need to downgrade their titles when inheriting them, as a reward from the emperor for their merits, hence the title of Iron Hat King, indicating that their crowns would never be taken away.
The term “iron hat king” first appeared in official Chinese media reports in 2015. An article published in the People’s Daily on January 15 of that year claimed, “There is no ‘iron hat king’ in corruption, the anti-corruption campaign has no ceiling.”
In February 2015, an article on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection revisited the term “iron hat king,” stating that in matters of corruption, no one can be the “iron hat king.”
On March 4 of the same year, an article from the overseas edition of the People’s Daily, operating under the new media platform “Study Group,” suggested that the frequent use of this particular political term by the Chinese Communist Party officials most likely reflects the will of the top leaders, possibly even the highest leader, Xi Jinping. The article further mentioned speculations from various outlets, including the media, about who the “iron hat king” could refer to.
At that time, it was widely analyzed that when Xi Jinping mentioned the “iron hat king,” he might have been referring to former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin and former Politburo Standing Committee member, a prominent figure in the Jiang faction, Zeng Qinghong. Currently, analysts believe that the one who could be seen as the “iron hat king” within the Communist Party of China is Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia.
Political analyst Chen Pokong, who resides in the United States, suggested that Xi Jinping’s recent remarks were likely directed at Zhang Youxia. In an interview with a reporter on February 12, he stated that the “iron hat king” refers to a high-ranking figure who holds significant power and poses a threat to Xi Jinping. Following Xi Jinping’s mention of the “iron hat king” in January, rumors surfaced in February about the investigation of former Politburo Standing Committee member Jia Qinglin and his family, with some claiming that the military might be leading the investigation. Given Jia Qinglin’s close relationship with Xi Jinping, this situation raised eyebrows.
Chen Pokong argued that Xi Jinping’s mention of the “iron hat king” in January was likely a warning to Zhang Youxia. The subsequent news of Jia Qinglin being investigated by the military was seen as a direct challenge in return. In other words, when Xi Jinping referred to Zhang Youxia as the “iron hat king,” Zhang Youxia’s camp then pointed the finger at Jia Qinglin, labeling him as the “iron hat king.” Therefore, this situation resulted in a back-and-forth power struggle between the two factions.
Political commentator Tang Jingyuan, on the other hand, suggested that Xi Jinping may not be targeting a specific individual. In an interview with a reporter, he mentioned that when Xi Jinping last mentioned the “iron hat king” during his first term, it was mainly directed at Zeng Qinghong. However, Xi Jinping ultimately did not take actions against Zeng Qinghong, implying that there might have been some kind of agreement between them where Zeng Qinghong chose to support Xi Jinping in exchange for protecting his family from retribution.
Tang Jingyuan further stated that Xi Jinping’s reiteration of the “iron hat king” suggests that he is back in a situation similar to his first term, where his power is no longer stable. Additionally, Xi Jinping might not specifically be targeting Zhang Youxia. Among the high-ranking officials above the deputy national level in the Chinese Communist Party, very few are genuinely trustworthy and fully support Xi Jinping; many in fact belong to the anti-Xi faction. Therefore, this statement could be seen as a warning to all those who could potentially threaten his position or make him uneasy.
“Tang Jingyuan argued that Xi Jinping’s recent stance signifies that the internal power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party are becoming increasingly overt and escalating.”
The Fourth Plenary Session of the Twentieth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, originally scheduled to be held in the fall of 2024, has so far shown no signs of taking place. This session typically focuses on party building proposals and involves discussions on the highest power transitions and arrangements for successors. There have been rumors that Xi Jinping might step down from his positions as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission during the meeting.
Since the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China held in July of last year, rumors surrounding Xi Jinping’s health have continually surfaced. There have been recent reports claiming that he suffered a second stroke during the Lunar New Year period. Meanwhile, the question of Xi Jinping’s successor remains a focal point of external attention, but as of now, no clear arrangements have been made.
Chinese leaders have always been secretive about the issue of successors, especially discussing the succession of the current leader is considered a taboo, especially after Xi Jinping entered his third term.
An article in The Wall Street Journal in May 2023 analyzed Xi Jinping’s predicament regarding his successor. It mentioned that dictators tend to appoint successors they trust to preserve their legacy and protect their interests after stepping down. However, for a successor to consolidate power, they must establish their political base early on to avoid being sidelined or dismissed after assuming office. Once a successor emerges, the party elite will inevitably begin adjusting their political loyalties, potentially weakening the authority of the current leader and raising concerns about power struggles.
The article added that authoritarian leaders need to guard against the severe consequences they might face if they passively lose power. Even dictators who voluntarily step down, apart from maintaining influence on their successors, have no guarantee of their own security.
Tang Jingyuan pointed out that looking at the current situation, Xi Jinping’s power has significantly diminished. However, the key reason why he still firmly holds the core power is that no one within the Chinese Communist Party is willing to take over in the aftermath.
He analyzed that since Xi Jinping came to power, not only has he severely impacted the Chinese economy, but he has also almost exhausted the political capital accumulated by the Communist Party over the past few decades, leading to an unmanageable situation. In these circumstances, where no one within the party is willing to step forward and bear the consequences, a delicate situation has arisen – Xi Jinping’s power has weakened, yet he continues to hold power. In other words, he must bear the consequences himself.
Tang Jingyuan asserted that if Xi Jinping is replaced, the issue of succession becomes unavoidable. However, the Chinese Communist Party currently struggles to find suitable candidates. During the power transition process, the various factions and influential families at the top level are sure to vie for power, leading to intense internal struggles and hidden conflicts.