Recently, the top leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, conducted inspections in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. Xi appeared to be walking slowly, showing signs of fatigue, aging, and with a head full of white hair. Security was tight wherever Xi went, and there were speculations among netizens that he might be wearing a bulletproof vest.
According to reports from the official Chinese state media Xinhua, from March 19th to 20th, Xi Jinping, accompanied by Yunnan Provincial Party Secretary Wang Ning and Governor Wang Yubo, visited Lijiang, Kunming, and other places for inspections and research.
Videos circulating online showed Xi Jinping inspecting Lijiang with a large number of close bodyguards closely following him. He seemed tired, aged, with abundant white hair, a forced smile, possibly wearing a bulletproof vest, causing his body to appear more swollen and his walking pace to be slow.
Local netizens revealed that the towns Xi Jinping passed through were almost under martial law, restricting the basic freedom of movement for ordinary residents, prohibiting photography, opening windows, and even controlling Teslas.
Some overseas netizens criticized, “Incompetent in governing, adept at disturbing the people.” “It’s all a show.” “Causing disturbances everywhere!” “What’s there to be afraid of? Wearing such thick bulletproof vest?” “How many layers of bulletproof vest is he wearing? The puffiness is too exaggerated!” “So many watchdogs following him.” “All tourists must be undercover actors.”
Others commented, “It’s been a long time since he dyed his hair.” “Showing signs of aging.” “Can’t see any sense of accomplishment, only a sense of loneliness and desolation, but I see a glimmer of hope!”
Since the Third Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee held in July last year, various abnormalities have appeared in the Chinese Communist Party’s official circles, with widespread rumors about Xi Jinping’s health problems and weakening of power within the party.
In another report from the official media, from March 17th to 18th, Xi Jinping, accompanied by Guizhou Provincial Party Secretary Xu Lin and Governor Li Bingjun, visited Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guiyang, and other places for inspections and research. Xi was accompanied by Politburo Standing Committee member and head of the Central Organization Department Cai Qi, Politburo member and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng.
On the afternoon of the 17th, Xi Jinping visited Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County, Qiandongnan Prefecture. According to official reports, at the entrance of the village, “villagers dressed in traditional ethnic costumes” sang a grand song to welcome Xi.
On March 20th, independent commentator Cai Shenkun posted an article on an overseas platform along with screenshots of comments from netizens, mentioning that Xi inspected Guizhou and that nearly a thousand plainclothes personnel from twelve counties in Qiandongnan Prefecture had been selected, rehearsed for a week, and the original residents of Zhaoxing Dong Village were relocated to live in Liping County, with the disguised personnel staying for a week to familiarize themselves with the environment.
The text further described, “After nearly half a month of turmoil, wasting manpower and resources for just over two hours. Prior to this, the village cleaned up, moved cherry blossoms and pear trees to the village to decorate it with spring colors. The government paid for new Dong costumes for the Dong girls. The road from Liping Airport to Zhaoxing Dong Village was re-paved with diamond sandstone along the way. The nearly thousand participants received a daily subsidy of 300 yuan (RMB), with a one-time payment into their personal accounts after a week. This is the arrangement for inspections, where the real things were indeed not seen, and the false things led to self-righteousness, feeling good, believing that they are leading well, and are the leaders of the people.”
Cai Shenkun pointed out that in reality, Xi Jinping is “unilaterally violating the eight-point regulations” everywhere, and the key is how Cai Qi and Li Xi will handle this.