On June 13, the Chinese Communist Party held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the birth of Chen Yun. Xi Jinping, the leader of the CCP, delivered a speech praising Chen Yun. According to CCP regulations, official activities are held to commemorate the birthdays of deceased national leaders at ten, fifty, and hundred-year intervals, so this symposium itself was not unusual. Some say Xi made a high-profile appearance, but in the author’s view, Xi’s speech this time contained several implicit acknowledgments and self-criticisms.
Chen Yun was born on June 13, 1905, and passed away on April 10, 1995. He was the fifth most powerful figure during Mao Zedong’s era, focusing on the economy; and the second most powerful figure during Deng Xiaoping’s era, second only to Deng himself.
According to CCTV footage, Xi Jinping read from a script at the venue that day. His hair was gray, his face dull, his spirits average, and the audience present seemed mostly expressionless.
Xi praised Chen Yun in his speech, highlighting Chen Yun’s achievements in personnel management within the Party. Xi mentioned that during Chen Yun’s seven years as the Minister of the Organization Department, he made “important contributions” to the establishment of the tradition of “selecting and appointing personnel.” Xi also specifically commented on Chen Yun’s thoughts on personnel selection, emphasizing the principles of “both virtue and talent” and “recruiting from all walks of life.”
However, it is important to note that the CCP is atheist and has always undermined morality, advocating for struggle and deceit. Since the CCP came to power, internal power struggles have never ceased. Therefore, the concept of selecting personnel based on “virtue” is nonexistent, with virtue being defined solely based on party loyalty, following the command of the Communist spirit. Xi’s emphasis on “both virtue and talent” and “recruiting from all walks of life” directly addresses the current internal and external criticisms against him.
One of Xi’s characteristics in personnel selection is promoting individuals from his old circle. However, since June 2023, many of Xi’s personally selected and promoted confidants have fallen from grace. The majority of these cases have been concentrated in the military and defense sectors, with senior figures such as Defense Ministers Wei Fenglan and Lishang Fu being removed from their positions. Many high-ranking military officials have faced consequences, and significant changes have been made within the military industry system. Many of these individuals were members of the Central Committee, personally appointed by Xi.
It is worth noting that Xi’s military personnel chief, Miao Hua, fell from grace in November last year, and another close confidant of Xi, Vice Chairman of the Military Commission He Weidong, has been missing for several months. Additionally, former Minister of the Organization Department Li Ganjie was demoted to Minister of the United Front Work Department in March this year. The fact that both of Xi’s key personnel managers in the military and Party system have faced issues indicates significant problems in Xi’s personnel policies.
Xi’s recent praise for Chen Yun not only highlights Chen Yun’s effectiveness in economic matters but also underscores the pressure Xi himself is facing due to economic failures within the Party.
In his speech praising Chen Yun, Xi also emphasized Chen Yun’s support for Deng Xiaoping in rectifying chaos and implementing reforms after the Cultural Revolution, particularly mentioning Chen Yun’s role in formulating the “Several Principles on Political Life within the Party” in 1980. Interestingly, this document was a source of concern for Xi.
The “Several Principles on Political Life within the Party” primarily aimed to address the harm caused by Mao Zedong’s dictatorial powers, focusing on the core principle of “upholding collective leadership and opposing individual dictatorship.” It emphasized that collective leadership is one of the highest principles, stating that secretaries and committee members are equals, with the Secretary being an equal member of the Party Committee. It prohibited monopolies, patriarchal practices, and authoritarianism.
The document also emphasized that “democratic centralism is the fundamental organizational principle of the Party,” promoting internal democracy and allowing party members to express different opinions, while forbidding attacks and persecutions. However, according to previous official reports, Xi detests the concept of “internal party democracy.”
In recent years, official documents from key CCP meetings have stressed “centralized and unified leadership” while mentioning “democratic centralism” less frequently. However, towards the end of last year, the CCP’s military newspaper started emphasizing the importance of “collective leadership” and “internal party democracy” rather than promoting Xi’s “cult of personality.”
Xi’s praise for Chen Yun’s role in promoting “collective leadership” and “opposing individual dictatorship” and championing internal party democracy is intriguing. These statements appear to have been made reluctantly, as they indirectly acknowledge his current struggles within the CCP.
Rumors of Xi Jinping’s imminent loss of power have been circulating recently, with speculation that his downfall will soon be announced. In Xi’s home province of Shaanxi, hundreds of people recently signed joint letters accusing Xi of leading a false anti-corruption campaign, merely paying lip service to “governing the country according to law,” and creating a situation where miscarriages of justice abound with impunity. This unprecedented action reflects the growing discontent among the public.
On May 19, an official CCP mouthpiece mentioned that Xi Jinping issued an “important directive” regarding the 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the need to adhere to “scientific, democratic, and lawful decision-making.” This slogan was previously associated with Hu Jintao but had been sidelined since Xi took office. The revival of this phrase is seen as further evidence of Xi’s declining authority.
According to sources close to the power dynamics, while Xi may still maintain a facade of authority, he has effectively lost power. Former Premier Wen Jiabao and the current Deputy Chairman of the Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, have emerged as key figures influencing the political landscape in China. Reports suggest that Xi has been losing power since April last year, despite making attempts to regain control, often resorting to force, only to meet with failure. Presently, he is merely going through the motions, following orders to maintain his position.
Despite Xi’s seemingly confident words about maintaining political determination in the face of complex situations during his speech commemorating Chen Yun, when considering the preceding details of self-criticism, his statement could also reflect the escalating internal power struggles within the CCP, illustrating the immense pressure Xi is under, serving more as self-encouragement.