On September 3, the Beijing authorities held a military parade at Tiananmen Square, where over a hundred “Red Second Generation” members gathered for a group photo and related videos were leaked. The photo showed Xi Jinping’s younger brother, Xi Yuanping, as the organizer, while the video captured Chen Yi’s son, Chen Haosu, praising the military parade on site. Some netizens lamented the complete downfall of the Red Second Generation. Analysts noted the absence of key figures like Deng Pufang, Liu Yuan, and Hu Deping, suggesting a possible resistance to the event.
After the military parade in Beijing, a photo of the Red Second Generation circulated on overseas platforms. Xi Yuanping stood in the center of the second row, surrounded by older and higher-ranking members of the Red Second Generation, including Mao Zedong’s daughter Li Min in a wheelchair, Zhou Enlai’s niece Zhou Bingde, and Chen Yi’s eldest son. However, notable figures like Deng Xiaoping’s son Deng Pufang, Liu Shaoqi’s son Liu Yuan, and Hu Yaobang’s son Hu Deping were absent from the photo, indicating a significant absence of heavyweight “princelings.”
A video from a Red Second Generation gathering also surfaced. On September 7, an account named Gancheng Wang posted a video on X platform claiming that the Red Second Generation has completely fallen: Chen Yi’s son, Chen Haosu, sang praises for Xi Jinping at the military parade. The video showed Chen Haosu reciting poetry in praise of the parade, with Xi Yuanping coordinating and prompting applause from the audience.
Some netizens commented, “Their predecessors flattered the dictator, and now they continue to do the same. Where does the downfall begin?” and “After the Cultural Revolution, they collectively reflected on leftist issues.” Another said, “Xi’s family is pocketing a lot of money. How much did they pay to participate in this event?” It is argued that these individuals have always acted in this manner, aligning themselves with the ruling elite rather than speaking up for the common people.
Li Yabin, the son of a high-ranking official in the early years of the Communist Party, shared photos of the Red Second Generation attending the September 3 commemorative event at a hotel in Beijing. The gathering included the aforementioned group photo, indicating a continuation of the privileged status enjoyed by these individuals, as long as they support Xi Jinping’s leadership.
Political commentator Chen Pokong suggested that while Xi Yuanping stood prominently in the photo, signifying unity among the Red Second Generation and princelings, key figures such as Liu Yuan, Deng Pufang, and Hu Deping were notably absent, hinting at underlying resistance.
A YouTube channel believed to be part of the CCP’s propaganda machine released a list of attendees from the military parade, which excluded Liu Yuan but included his daughter Liu Ting, omitted Deng Pufang but featured Deng Nan, and had no representatives from the Hu Yaobang family.
It is worth noting that in February 2015, nearly a thousand Red Second Generation members gathered in Beijing for a Lunar New Year gathering, yet this time, the group photo taken after the military parade only featured around a hundred members.
Chen Pokong noted that the attendees of the military parade were predominantly leftist figures. Interestingly, Chen Haosu’s younger brother, Chen Xiaolu, was reportedly persecuted to death by Xi Jinping.
Chen Xiaolu passed away on February 28, 2018, after suffering a massive heart attack in Hainan. Prior to his death, he was reportedly investigated for his involvement in the Anbang Group case and was forced to write a self-criticism letter.
Deng Pufang, the eldest son of Deng Xiaoping, retired from his position as honorary chairman of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation in September 2023. His grandson-in-law, Wu Xiaohui, founder of Anbang Group, was arrested and sentenced, seen as a manifestation of the rift between the Deng and Xi families.
Liu Yuan, who previously held positions in the Chinese military and logistics departments, offered support to Xi Jinping in neutralizing figures associated with the Jiang faction when Xi first took office. Despite expectations to potentially enter the Central Military Commission at the 19th Party Congress, Liu Yuan retired prematurely in 2015 and took on a less prominent role. His seating arrangement at a recent event hosted by the Ministry of National Defense drew public attention.
The sons of Hu Yaobang, Hu Deping, and Hu Dehua (deceased), held different political views from Xi Jinping. They belonged to the reformist faction. Retired Yunnan official Zisu publicly suggested direct elections for the General Secretary of the CCP, calling for Xi Jinping’s resignation and the appointment of Hu Deping as the new General Secretary, fueling potential resentment from Xi Jinping.
Political commentator Li Linyi stated that the absence of Deng Pufang, Liu Yuan, and Hu Deping at the military parade signifies a form of resistance, even if their families sent representatives. Renowned scholar Yuan Hongbing, known for his connections to insiders of the CCP system, once revealed that Liu Yuan was involved in the anti-Xi efforts of the Red Second Generation. He identified three factions within the CCP system, led by Hu Deping and Liu Yuan, Deng Pufang, and the extreme leftist faction of Mao Zedong’s ideology, aiming to obstruct Xi Jinping’s re-election at the 21st Party Congress.