In the midst of rumors of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping losing military power and possibly stepping down, various overseas sources have been speculating about potential successors to Xi, with names like Wang Yang, Hu Chunhua, and Ding Xuexiang being mentioned. Of particular note is the rare instance of Hu Chunhua chairing a recent meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), sparking further speculation.
A report from the official Chinese state news agency Xinhua on June 23rd stated that the 12th session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee convened in Beijing to discuss “further deepening economic system reforms.” The meeting was attended by CPPCC Chairman and member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, Wang Huning, who presided over the opening session, while CPPCC Vice Chairman Hu Chunhua chaired the meeting, with Deputy Premier of the State Council of the CCP He Lifeng in attendance.
It is worth noting that in the past, the opening session of CPPCC meetings has been chaired either by the CPPCC Chairman himself or the Vice Chairman ranking first in seniority. Prior to this meeting, chaired by Hu Chunhua, previous sessions were led by either Wang Huning or the top-ranking vice chairman, Shi Taifeng. The decision to have Hu Chunhua lead this time signals a potential shift in leadership dynamics within the party.
Political commentator Li Lin pointed out to The Epoch Times that this development carries a sensitive signal. Historically, Shi Taifeng, who currently heads the CCP Organization Department, also holds the top vice chairman position within the CPPCC. By voluntarily relinquishing his role to Hu Chunhua, Shi Taifeng may be paving the way for Hu Chunhua’s advancement within the party ranks.
At the 2022 20th Party Congress, as a leader of the “Youth League Faction,” former CCP leader Hu Jintao was removed from the venue by Xi Jinping’s order. Li Keqiang and Wang Yang stepped down, with Hu Chunhua, designated by Hu Jintao for succession, subsequently removed from the Politburo and demoted to CPPCC Vice Chairman. The future trajectory of Hu Chunhua remains a subject of ongoing scrutiny.
In March this year, Xi Jinping’s university classmate Chen Xi, who was appointed as the Minister of the Organization Department by Xi, was reassigned to a seemingly less consequential role as the head of the United Front Work Department. The new Minister of the Organization Department, Shi Taifeng, has close ties with the Youth League faction.
Shi Taifeng was promoted to Deputy Principal of the Chinese Party School in 2001 when Hu Jintao served as a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and Principal of the Party School. During Hu Jintao’s visits to Jiangsu for ancestral rites, Shi Taifeng, then the Governor of Jiangsu, personally accompanied him, underscoring their close relationship. Shi Taifeng and the late former CCP Premier Li Keqiang were classmates at Peking University Law School. Therefore, Shi Taifeng’s placement in the Organization Department, overseeing personnel affairs, is seen as a move for the veteran CCP members to regain control of the political landscape.
Political commentator Zhou Xiaohui noted in an article on June 23rd in The Epoch Times that two significant points from the latest CPPCC meeting are worth noting: firstly, He Lifeng’s report prioritized “reforms across various sectors” before mentioning the study of Xi Jinping’s so-called “series of new ideas,” deviating from past reports that glorified Xi. Secondly, the meeting was presided over by Hu Chunhua, the second-ranked vice chairman within the CPPCC. This marks the first time Hu Chunhua has chaired an opening session at the past twelve meetings, particularly at a meeting related to reform, signifying a departure from the norm.
Hu Chunhua has been notably active in recent times, attending various high-profile events and overseas visits. In December 2024, he replaced Han Zheng at the opening ceremony of the “2024 Urban International Discussion Forum” in Madrid, Spain. From March 30 to April 3 this year, Hu Chunhua led a delegation of non-Party members of the CPPCC to Anhui for inspection; from April 8 to 17, he visited Nigeria and two other African countries; on May 25, he paid respects at the Vietnamese Embassy in China following the passing of former Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang; and from June 15 to 18, he led an investigatory group from the CPPCC’s Agriculture and Rural Committee to Liaoning.
An article published by the CCP’s mouthpiece, People’s Daily, and Xinhua on May 19 highlighted Xi Jinping’s recall of the slogan from the Hu Jintao era, advocating for “adhering to scientific decisions, democratic decisions, and decisions based on the rule of law.” This move raised questions in the Asia edition of Nikkei, with commentator Nakazawa Kei pointing out the subtle irony in Xi revisiting a slogan once associated with his political rival, Hu Jintao, which may hint at shifting dynamics within the party’s internal politics.
Nakazawa Kei noted that many military officials who rose through the ranks with Xi’s support are now facing retribution, while members of the Youth League faction, including Hu Chunhua, who were previously targeted by Xi, are now receiving more coverage from official media outlets. This shift raises intriguing implications for future party dynamics.
Sources reveal that Xi Jinping, while still appearing in power, has effectively lost his standing, with figures like Wen Jiabao and Zhang Yesui emerging as key players influencing Chinese politics. Allegedly, Xi is merely following a script and carrying out orders as instructed.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun disclosed in a self-media post on May 6 that the Fourth Plenary Session of the CCP Central Committee may bring sweeping changes. Faced with the current international situation, domestic economic pressures, and Xi Jinping’s health concerns, veteran CCP members have reportedly reached a breaking point and are collectively pressuring Xi Jinping.
On June 9, in Xi’s hometown of Shaanxi, hundreds of petitioners took action, issuing a joint complaint to Hu Jintao and Wang Yang, accusing Xi of conducting a superficial anti-corruption campaign and merely paying lip service to “governing the country according to law,” resulting in a proliferation of miscarriages of justice. This unprecedented development has captured widespread attention.
Political analyst Du Zheng wrote in a piece for Shangbao that within an authoritarian regime like the CCP, internal power struggles have historically been ruthless. The Fourth Plenary Session may materialize as a crucial reckoning for Xi Jinping. Should the CCP system disintegrate with Xi Jinping stepping down, facilitating a smooth transition to democracy, notions of succession would be rendered obsolete.