On June 4th, this year marks the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, also known as the “June Fourth” incident. As this date approaches, turmoil is escalating across various sectors in China, from the grassroots to the top echelons of the Communist Party, and even within the People’s Liberation Army.
Recently, a video circulated on Chinese social media showing a scene at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The video depicted a taxi stopped by the roadside barricade with significant damage to its front end. Several police officers rushed towards the taxi and proceeded to break its windows. Near the taxi, a uniformed individual was lying on the ground, appearing to be a police officer who might have been hit and thrown to the ground by the taxi. Another police officer approached to check on the fallen individual who seemed unresponsive.
In the background of the video, the person filming can be heard saying, “Quickly, quickly, just go straight through, see the police are dead, the police are not moving.”
The Chinese authorities have not officially reported on this incident, and the details about the taxi driver remain unclear. The exact date of the video’s recording could not be verified by Epoch Times. However, given the sensitivity surrounding the upcoming “June Fourth” anniversary and the location being Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the incident has sparked widespread discussions both domestically and internationally.
On June 1st, prominent Beijing lawyer and Chair of the Canadian Alliance of the Chinese Democratic Movement, Lai Jianping, expressed in an interview with Epoch Times that this incident once again exemplifies the authoritarian rule of the Chinese Communist Party in recent years, particularly under the leadership of Xi Jinping. This oppressive governance has led to a comprehensive social crisis in China, with widespread grievances and unrest among the populace, many of whom are struggling to survive. Consequently, some have resorted to anti-social behavior as a form of venting frustration and seeking retaliation.
“This is bound to exacerbate the hostility within society,” Lai Jianping remarked, indicating that many are becoming perpetrators while others are becoming victims, largely due to the oppressive nature of the Communist regime. He emphasized that this incident will generate significant repercussions, making the Communist Party further recognize the fragility and crisis of its power structure. However, with the Party’s rule becoming increasingly unsustainable, it is inevitable for the CCP to tighten its grip on society to uphold its one-party dictatorship and individual autocracy, thereby indicating a more severe political landscape in the future.
On May 28th, the Chinese authorities convened a national public security representatives meeting in Beijing, with Party leader Xi Jinping meeting with the attending delegates.
In their subsequent report published on the following day, Xinhua News Agency, the official mouthpiece of the CCP, quoted Chen Wenqing, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee and Secretary of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, as emphasizing the need to “forge an excellent iron army of loyal purity in public security” and stressing the imperative to “fully prevent risks, ensure security, and maintain stability.”
In a report released by Xinhua on May 31st, the term “security” appeared 12 times, while “stability” was reiterated 8 times throughout the report.
Political commentator based in the United States, Chen Pokong, expressed on his independent media program that the convening of the public security representatives meeting by the CCP at this juncture holds specific implications. Firstly, the upcoming 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen incident has put the leaders in Zhongnanhai, the central headquarters of the CCP, on edge. Additionally, the Third Plenum of the CCP, set to take place in July, may involve some power restructuring or the family and privatization of power. He surmised that Xi Jinping aims to accelerate this process and is wary of any potential threats, hence the recent meeting.
Lai Jianping asserted that while the June Fourth incident is only an external factor, the Communist Party’s misrule has already caused countless disasters, prompting them to take all measures necessary to maintain their grip on power.
He noted that in recent years, especially since the implementation of the “dynamic zero-Covid” policy, the CCP has brought numerous disasters upon various aspects of society including the economy and social life, leading to constant social issues and accumulating grievances among the people. This sense of impending crisis has made the CCP acutely aware of the precariousness of its rule, thereby emphasizing “security” and “stability” and deploying all resources towards maintaining social order. However, if their stability efforts fail, it could spell the downfall of the Communist regime. In this climate, the authorities are likely discussing further stringent measures to control the populace to ensure their continued political supremacy.
However, he also pointed out that these measures by the CCP are yielding limited results. Despite escalating crackdowns on civil society, the people no longer live in fear. Many individuals feel hopeless, devoid of prospects and confidence in the current regime. Lately, in a specific region in China, dozens of people committed suicide by jumping off the same bridge. In such dire societal circumstances, people are relatively unaffected by the CCP’s stability measures. Consequently, regardless of the number of measures taken by the authorities, their effectiveness may be limited in the face of prevailing discontent among the populace.
Even within the ranks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), unrest is simmering, with reports of insulting remarks directed at Xi Jinping surfacing recently.
A source familiar with military affairs in China, going by the pseudonym Tian Ming, revealed to Epoch Times that following Beijing’s announcement of military exercises around Taiwan, changes have occurred within the central region of the PLA. At midnight, a sudden charge was sounded when troops were supposed to be resting, indicating training activities occurring at an unusual hour. It is the primary responsibility of the central military district to defend Beijing.
Tian Ming, residing in Hebei Province not far from the local garrison, disclosed to Epoch Times that after Taiwan’s elections in January, every household in their area received emergency kits, signaling preparations being made by the CCP in anticipation of potential conflict. Should hostilities erupt, Beijing would be the primary target, prompting residents to flee to Hebei.
However, he doubted the safety of the Beijing surrounding areas for the CCP leadership, attributing internal stability as the main cause since there appears to be discontent within the military towards Xi Jinping. He stated, “These days, there was heavy rain in Hebei, and a saying spread within the military – the water will flood Zhongnanhai and Xi Jinping will be beaten.”
Intense turbulence has been ongoing within the PLA since last year, with significant purges targeting various departments including the Rocket Force, Equipment Development Department, Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, Navy, Air Force, Strategic Support Forces, and aerospace defense enterprises. At least more than ten high-ranking officials have been taken down, notably including former commanders of the Rocket Force Li Yuchao and Zhou Yaning, and former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu.
Lai Jianping highlighted that the disrespect shown towards Xi Jinping within the PLA reflects a widespread consensus not only among the general public denouncing Xi Jinping and the CCP’s autocratic regime but also within the system and even the military ranks.
He underscored that Xi Jinping’s selective anti-corruption measures have led to large-scale purges within the Party and the military, resulting in strong resistance across different echelons of the Party, government, and military. Thus, the derogatory remarks not only express the public’s desire for Xi Jinping and the CCP’s downfall but also echo the prevalent sentiment within the system. The individuals perceived as “loyal” to Xi Jinping are primarily beneficiaries of his regime. If Xi Jinping were to fall, even his loyalists would face dire consequences, and the majority of officials are eagerly awaiting his downfall.
The CCP is set to convene the Third Plenum in July, with ongoing political purges within the party apparatus leading up to the event.
On May 30th, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission reported that Gou Zhongwen, the Deputy Director of the CCP Nationalities and Religious Affairs Committee, is currently under scrutiny and investigation. Gou Zhongwen previously served as the director of the CCP National Sports General Administration from October 2016 to August 2022, overseeing major events like the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Tokyo Summer Olympics, and Beijing Winter Olympics.
Gou Zhongwen was last seen on May 22nd when he attended a so-called “Xi Thought” symposium. Before his downfall, several of his former subordinates were investigated, raising concerns regarding Gou Zhongwen’s alleged involvement in misconduct, prompting public speculation about his detention.
Additionally, on May 25th, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission reported that Xu Ji, the Deputy Director of the CCP State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, is currently under scrutiny and investigation. Xu Ji, holding the highest rank among the Deputy Directors of the CCP State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and serving in this role for a decade, was last seen in a public event on May 14th.
Recently ousted high-ranking officials at the provincial and ministerial level include Liu Xingtai, Vice Chairman of the Hainan Provincial People’s Congress Standing Committee, Wang Hao, Vice Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Lou Wenlong, Deputy Governor of the Agricultural Bank of China.
Moreover, in recent days, two senior officials at the ministerial level of CCP-affiliated enterprises have been sentenced to death or to death penalty reprieve. Former General Manager of China Huarong International Holdings Ltd., Bai Tianhui, was sentenced to death, and former Deputy Director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, He Zehua, received a reprieve.
(Note: The content was contributed to by journalist Ning Xin.)