Signals from within the Chinese Communist Party suggest a managed exit may be underway, as old factions resurface and loyalists fall.
News Analysis
A series of unmistakable signals from within China’s political system in recent months indicate that Xi Jinping’s grip on power is weakening and that his removal may be imminent.
At least three prominent overseas insiders—each with a track record of reliably exposing Beijing’s internal affairs—have said that Xi currently holds only a nominal role and is expected to formally step down in the near future.
Among the most telling signs are the resurgence of the sidelined Communist Youth League faction, the purge of military figures close to Xi, and the conspicuously low-key inauguration of the Guanzhong Revolutionary Memorial Hall in northern China’s Shaanxi Province. By precedent, the memorial should have honored Xi’s father—Xi Zhongxun, a communist revolutionary. However, his name was omitted entirely from the memorial, and the regional designation “Guanzhong” was used instead.
CCP Elders ‘Can No Longer Tolerate Xi’
On May 21, veteran political commentator Cai Shenkun cited high-level sources in Beijing and stated on his YouTube channel that senior figures within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have reached a collective decision—Xi will have to formally step down from the political stage.
Cai, who has previously revealed accurate information about power shifts in both the CCP and military, said that discontent among Party elders has reached a breaking point, fueled by mounting international pressure, a faltering domestic economy, and Xi’s deteriorating health.
He further noted that Xi’s grip on the military has already been significantly weakened, and that the earliest possible time for a public announcement of his full exit from power—including his roles as Party leader and military chief—could be at the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, which he said is expected to take place in late August of this year. However, Chinese authorities have not yet officially announced the dates.
Cai’s report is consistent with recent remarks by Yuan Hongbing, a former Peking University law professor now living in exile in Australia, who maintains ties with well-placed sources inside the CCP.
Before Cai’s disclosure on social media, Yuan had told The Epoch Times that multiple factions within the Party have joined forces and are actively preparing to end Xi’s rule by blocking him from seeking another term at the 21st National Congress.
By Olivia Li
