Today (3rd), the Chinese Communist Party held a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Senior party members such as Li Ruihuan and Wen Jiabao attended the event, while Hu Jintao was absent. Party leader Xi Jinping was suspected of showing signs of illness. Observers noted several noticeable differences compared to Xi’s appearance during the military parade commemorating the 10th anniversary of the “Resistance” in Beijing a decade ago.
According to footage from CCTV, senior party members attending the military parade today included: Li Ruihuan, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun, He Guoqiang, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, and Zhang Gaoli. Absentees included Hu Jintao, Zhu Rongji, Song Ping, and Luo Gan.
Hu Jintao, who will turn 83 by the end of the year, holds a prominent position among the party elders. He was famously escorted away from the venue during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Party Congress, with allegations of being involved in power struggles within the party.
Zhu Rongji, who will turn 97 next month, has rarely been seen in public in recent years. His last appearance at a public event was in October 2018 when he met with the advisory committee of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management.
Xi Jinping delivered a speech before reviewing the troops. The live broadcast on CCTV showed Xi Jinping appearing somewhat unwell, with a lack of vigor in his speech.
Medical commentator Tang Jingyuan pointed out significant differences in Xi Jinping’s physical and mental condition during this year’s commemorative military parade compared to the one marking the 70th anniversary. He observed that Xi seemed extremely fatigued, walking with a noticeable limp. Additionally, while standing on the city tower, muscles in his neck on the left side exhibited involuntary spasms, indicating clear signs of post-stroke complications. “We can see that Xi Jinping had difficulty keeping his eyes open while traveling in the parade car, and his recent darkening skin color suggests he may be facing significant health troubles.”
On overseas platforms, “Sound of Hope – China Current Affairs” released a video asking, “What is happening to Xi Jinping? While standing on the Tiananmen Gate tower observing the military parade, his head kept trembling involuntarily.”
A video released by Hu Liren, a former Shanghai entrepreneur in the United States, referenced previous reports on Xi Jinping’s health, stating, “From the publicly available video footage, Xi Jinping’s health appears to be in serious jeopardy. His continuous head trembling is a typical symptom of Parkinson’s disease, showing a severe condition that appears difficult to control even with conventional medical treatment.”
Tang Jingyuan also noted that Xi Jinping seemed to be in a somber mood during the military parade. During the parade in 2015, Xi Jinping was not yet the undisputed leader, but he exuded confidence and authority. However, now Xi Jinping appears to be somewhat waning, lacking energy and displaying a visibly heavy demeanor, hardly showing a hint of a smile throughout the entire parade.
In 2015, Xi Jinping delivered a considerably long speech, lasting about 12 to 13 minutes, composed of nearly 3000 words. In contrast, his speech today was less than 1000 words, with a more restrained tone focusing mostly on diplomatic niceties, unlike his previous impassioned and aggressive demeanor.
CCTV and CGTN’s YouTube livestream of the Beijing military parade have both disabled comments.
The Chinese Communist Party is currently facing internal and external challenges, with intense power struggles among the party’s top echelons. Rumors concerning Xi Jinping’s shaky authority and deteriorating health have been circulating. Anti-Communist and anti-Xi sentiments are on the rise among the public.
On August 7th, a video circulated on overseas social media showing a man holding a banner reading “Xi Jinping, Leave” outside the Victory Memorial Hall in Kunming, Yunnan.
On the night of August 29th, large anti-Communist slogans were displayed on screens atop a high-rise building in Chongqing University Town for over 50 minutes, calling for the overthrow of the Communist Party regime and the restoration of freedom.
On August 31st, a poster was spotted on a bulletin board in Beijing demanding the resignation of the general secretary, along with three specific requests.