Inner Mongolia Baogang Plate Factory suffered a steam boiler explosion the day before yesterday, causing at least 9 deaths as of around 1 pm on the 20th. Inner Mongolia Secretary Wang Weizhong’s visit to “guide the work” and emphasize the implementation of the instructions from the Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi led to speculation due to not following the usual practices in the Chinese Communist Party.
On January 18 at 3:03 pm, a 650 cubic meter saturated water and steam boiler exploded in the steelmaking department of Baogang Steel Union Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Baogang Co., Ltd.”)’s subsidiary plate factory. According to official media, as of the evening of January 19, the accident had already resulted in 6 deaths, 4 missing persons, and 84 injured. By around 1 pm on the 20th, the death toll had risen to 9.
On January 19, Xinhua News Agency of the Chinese Communist Party reprinted a report from the “Inner Mongolia Daily”, stating that Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Communist Party Committee, Wang Weizhong, visited the site of the explosion at Baogang and mentioned the need to “rapidly implement the spirit of Comrade Cai Qi’s instructions,” to carry out search and rescue efforts, console the families of the victims, strengthen on-site safety control, and more.
However, an earlier report from Inner Mongolia News Network on the same day showed that Wang Weizhong said, “to rapidly implement the instructions of the leading comrade of the Central Committee.” The difference between the two reports lies in the use of “leading comrade of the Central Committee” instead of Cai Qi.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun commented on X, stating that Wang Weizhong made Cai Qi sweat, and the official media directly elevated Cai Qi to a very prominent position. Such instructions often only mention the name of Xi Jinping, and the name of Li Qiang is rarely seen. If provincial party secretaries need to swiftly implement the spirit of Comrade Cai Qi’s instructions, then what about Xi Jinping? Did the explosion not meet the standards of Xi Jinping’s instructions, or did Cai Qi take over some of Xi Jinping’s powers?
Current affairs commentator Li Lin told Dajiyuan that Cai Qi is the fifth-ranked figure in the Chinese Communist Party, responsible for ideology, propaganda, cyber security, and so on. His regular work does not involve production safety and accident handling, as that falls under the jurisdiction of the State Council. What exactly did Cai Qi instruct? At most, it was emphasizing opinion control. In the past, in such serious accidents, instructions were usually issued by Xi Jinping, emphasizing the need for good opinion control, and Premier Li Qiang would occasionally issue instructions as well. Now, neither Xi nor Li has appeared, and Cai Qi has taken the lead. Did Cai Qi replace Xi, or did he seize power from Li Qiang? This indeed raises suspicions about what changes have occurred in the power structure of the Zhongnanhai.
Public records show that Wang Weizhong is from Shuozhou, Shanxi, and has served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2014, he was a member of the Shanxi Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Taiyuan Municipal Committee. In March 2017, he became a member of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee, and in December 2021, he served as Acting Governor of Guangdong Province. In January 2022, he became Governor, and on September 30, 2025, he was promoted to Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Party Committee.
Wang Weizhong has repeatedly praised Xi Jinping. At the opening ceremony of the Seventh Party Congress in Shenzhen on April 27, 2021, he declared, “General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee provide steadfast care and thick love like a mountain and sea.”
Dajiyuan reporters found that as of noon on January 20 this year, the reports from Xinhua News Agency and several mainland media outlets that reprinted the “Inner Mongolia Daily” still quoted Wang Weizhong as saying, “to swiftly implement the spirit of Comrade Cai Qi’s instructions,” without any changes.
Screenshots of related news on X platform sparked discussions: “Xi steps down, Cai steps up.” “It feels like Cai Qi is the Wei Zhongxian of modern times.” “Cai has the heart of Sima Zhao.” “Can’t wait to seize power.” “What’s going on? Is Xi stepping down and Cai stepping up?”
Xi Jinping’s third term has passed its midpoint, and the political situation of the Chinese Communist Party is said to have entered a paradoxical period. Independent commentator Du Zheng published an article in the Taiwanese media “Shangbao” on December 29 last year, stating that a group of officials cultivated by Xi Jinping over the years were divided into factions such as the Fujian Group, Zhejiang Group, and Shaanxi Group. Recently, the military Fujian Group represented by He Weidong and Miao Hua has been suppressed by the Shanxi Group led by Zhang Youxia. However, the Fujian Group led by Cai Qi in the party and government system still controls the administration and has aspirations for the highest position.
Du Zheng believes that as a dictator, Xi definitely wants to hold power for life. But man proposes, God disposes. With China’s economy declining and the crisis of political power deepening, Zhongnanhai is already in a state ready for change, including a power struggle for the highest position. Before and after the 21st Party Congress, it is a critical period for various forces to engage in a dark and light layout to seize power in the “post-Xi era.” After a hundred years, the destiny of the Chinese Communist Party is coming to an end, and this ship will not withstand the turmoil.