Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, recently visited Xinjiang, and Wang Huning, as the leader of the central delegation, was rarely seen standing with his hands behind his back while listening to Xi’s speech, sparking discussions.
From September 23rd to 25th, Xi Jinping participated in the “70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Xinjiang” activities in Urumqi, and on September 24th visited the Xinjiang “70th Anniversary Theme Exhibition”.
Photos released by CCTV showed that in at least three venues, while Xi Jinping was delivering a speech to a group of officials, Wang Huning, who was standing in the front row, had his hands behind his back, facing Xi Jinping at close range. Everyone else, including another member of the Politburo Standing Committee, Cai Qi, had their hands hanging down in front of them as a sign of attentively listening.
However, there was a scene where Wang Huning stood with his hands behind his back listening to Xi’s speech, and Cai Qi and Political Bureau member He Lifeng, who were standing behind Wang, also stood with their hands behind their backs, contrary to the usual practice.
Commentator Tang Jingyuan analyzed on social media, stating that in the official culture of the Chinese Communist Party, there is an important concept called the “backhand culture”. “When the superior is speaking to you, the subordinate can only stand with hands behind or hanging down straight in front, showing respect and obedience, indicating that they are attentively listening and fully obedient.”
Tang Jingyuan said that if a subordinate openly stands with hands behind their back in front of a superior, it would be seen as open contempt or a challenge. Therefore, no seasoned bureaucrat would dare to stand with hands behind their back while listening to Xi Jinping in front of the camera of CCTV.
The scene of Wang Huning standing with his hands behind his back listening to Xi’s speech caused a heated discussion on X platform.
The “Warfield (Officialdom) Observation Studio Zhaoming” expressed, “Only Wang Huning dared to stand with his hands behind his back at the scene, on par with Xi Jinping who also stood with hands behind his back. Others either stood with hands hanging down or crossed in front, once again illustrating Xi’s great power.”
American scholar Wu Zuolai said, “Wang Huning listening to Xi’s speech with his hands behind his back made it to the front page of People’s Daily. The image of the imperial tutor vividly depicts the situation where the tutor no longer wishes to serve the master.”
Netizen Joy commented, “It is obvious that Huning no longer regards Xi highly, he never had much respect for Xi anyway.”
Starting from Fudan University, Wang Huning, known as the “Three Dynasties National Master”, was appointed by Jiang Zemin in April 1995, appointed as Deputy Director of the Central Policy Research Office in April 1998, became the Director of the Policy Research Office in October 2002, and was promoted to ministerial level. Subsequently, Wang Huning was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China at the 16th National Congress.
During Hu Jintao’s reign, Wang Huning was highly valued, accompanying Hu Jintao on domestic inspections and overseas visits multiple times. With Xi Jinping coming to power at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Wang Huning became Xi’s confidant, long occupying the Central Policy Research Office and the Office for Deepening Reform, assisting Xi Jinping in formulating various disastrous policies. On October 25, 2017, Wang Huning entered the Politburo Standing Committee, overseeing ideology and propaganda, and was re-elected as a standing committee member at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022, transitioning to the chairman of the Political Consultative Conference.
At the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress on October 22, 2022, Hu Jintao being taken away garnered attention at home and abroad. According to media footage, when Hu was taken away, Li Zhanshu sitting on Hu’s left side attempted to support him, but was stopped by Wang Huning.
In the past two years, the internal struggles within the CCP intensified, with a large number of high officials promoted by Xi Jinping falling from grace, leading to speculations about infighting within Xi’s camp and the stability of Xi Jinping’s power.
American political commentator Chen Pokong once stated in a self-media program, “Although Wang Huning used to play a supportive role for Xi Jinping, he clearly has his own calculations. I’m afraid he may be a descendant of Sima Yi. This person is observing the conflicts between Xi Jinping and Li Qiang.”