Why Zhang Youxia and Wang Yi Didn't Accompany Xi to Macau

The Macau Jockey Club will cease operations on April 1 and hand over its facilities to the Macau government, with the horses to be transported to mainland China. (Macau Jockey Club)

People News - On December 19, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping traveled to Macau to attend events marking the 25th anniversary of its "handover." Ironically, mainland Chinese citizens wishing to visit Hong Kong or Macau post-handover still need to apply for a Hong Kong-Macau travel permit, while many foreigners continue to enjoy visa-free entry privileges. So, has Hong Kong and Macau really “returned,” or not? It seems the CCP fears that easing travel restrictions would lead to a massive influx of mainlanders into these regions. But why would they flock there? Isn’t it for that last shred of freedom that still lingers?

However, even that limited degree of freedom was temporarily stripped away around Xi Jinping’s visit to Macau. Reports indicated that during his stay, security measures were significantly heightened. Vending machines and motorcycle parking spaces were cordoned off, and all passages between Zhuhai’s Hengqin district and Macau were strictly controlled. Trucks were prohibited from passing, cars required facial recognition verification, some online chatrooms were shut down, and even various screen-equipped devices were disabled. Essentially, the CCP transplanted its mainland-style control mechanisms onto Macau, an approach that netizens described as “paranoia.” But what is Xi so afraid of?

Despite Xi’s speeches praising “One Country, Two Systems” and his hopes for Macau to better utilize its advantages under this framework to pioneer new developments, and despite state media’s portrayal of the “warm atmosphere” and “enthusiastic public” during Xi’s attendance at the swearing-in of Macau’s new Chief Executive, the reality remains unchanged: under CCP rule, “One Country, Two Systems” has become an empty slogan.

It’s crucial to understand that the essence of “One Country, Two Systems” lies in freedom—particularly judicial independence. Yet today, where is the freedom of speech, assembly, association, or the press in Hong Kong and Macau? In Hong Kong, the once-independent judiciary has been severely undermined. Cases related to national security no longer involve jury trials, and the conviction rate for those accused is nearly 100%. Macau fares no better. Over time, the freedoms of the internet and other domains in Hong Kong and Macau may eventually align with mainland China’s restrictions.

Xi’s visit to Macau only further underscores the CCP’s ongoing erosion of Hong Kong and Macau’s autonomy. Look at the waves of emigration from these regions, the current stagnation in Hong Kong, and the international backlash. The CCP’s so-called “confidence in its system” has long become a global joke.

Notably, Zhang Youxia, the first Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, and Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister, were absent from accompanying Xi Jinping on his trip to Macau this time. According to CCP official media reports, the high-ranking officials accompanying Xi included Cai Qi, Li Hongzhong, He Weidong, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong, Wang Dongfeng, and Xia Baolong.

Cai Qi, as the Secretary of the Secretariat and Director of the General Office, not accompanying would be strange. Xia Baolong, as the Executive Deputy Leader of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs and the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, was expected to attend. Among the other attendees: Li Hongzhong is the top-ranking Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress; He Weidong is the second Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission; He Lifeng is the second-ranking Vice Premier; Wang Xiaohong is the Minister of Public Security and Deputy Leader of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs; Wang Dongfeng is the sixteenth-ranking Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. From a surface perspective, the accompanying lineup is still strong, with several Politburo members.

However, comparing this trip to Hong Kong in July 2022 and late June 2017, there are some differences.

In July 2022, Ding Xuexiang, Xu Qiliang, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yi, and Xia Baolong accompanied Xi to Hong Kong to attend a meeting and the swearing-in ceremony of the SAR government. Xu Qiliang was the first-ranking Vice Chairman of the Military Commission; Shen Yueyue was the third-ranking Vice Chairperson of the National People’s Congress; Xia Baolong was the Vice Chairman of the CPPCC; Wang Yi was the Foreign Minister and Deputy Leader of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs.

On December 20, 2019, Xi Jinping went to Macau to attend the 20th anniversary celebration of the handover and the inauguration of the SAR government. Accompanying officials included Ding Xuexiang, Wang Chen, Zhang Youxia, Wang Yi, and Ma Biao. Wang Chen was the top-ranking Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress; Ma Biao was the eighth-ranking Vice Chairman of the CPPCC; Zhang Youxia was the second-ranking Vice Chairman of the Military Commission; Wang Yi was the Foreign Minister.

On June 30, 2017, Xi Jinping attended the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover. Accompanying high-ranking officials included Fan Changlong, Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Wang Chen, Yang Jiechi, and Zhang Qingli. Fan Changlong was the first-ranking Vice Chairman of the Military Commission; Wang Huning was a Politburo member; Li Zhanshu was the Director of the General Office; Wang Chen was the fifth-ranking Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress; Yang Jiechi was a State Councilor overseeing foreign affairs; Zhang Qingli was the tenth-ranking Vice Chairman of the CPPCC.

On December 20, 2014, the high-ranking officials accompanying Xi for the 15th-anniversary activities of Macau’s handover were Wang Huning, Fan Changlong, Li Zhanshu, Wang Chen, Yang Jiechi, and Zhang Qingli. Fan Changlong was the first-ranking Vice Chairman of the Military Commission.

From the high-ranking officials accompanying Xi to Hong Kong and Macau on these five trips, the standard configuration includes the Director of the General Office, a Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress, a Vice Chairman of the CPPCC, a Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, and an official overseeing foreign affairs. This year is particularly unique for the following reasons:

1. Zhang Youxia, as the first Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, did not accompany Xi and was instead replaced by He Weidong. If Xi’s status as the “one supreme” remains, and if his military power is intact, Zhang’s likelihood of accompanying Xi should be higher.

2. Wang Yi, as the Foreign Minister and Deputy Leader of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, did not accompany Xi. External diplomatic activities are not a sufficient reason for his absence. A more likely explanation is that after gradually destroying the democratic freedoms of Hong Kong and Macau, the CCP no longer considers them "foreign affairs," thus making Wang Yi’s presence unnecessary.

3. The presence of He Lifeng, the second-ranking Vice Premier, suggests that the CCP is paying attention to Macau’s economic transformation.

4. The presence of Wang Xiaohong, the Minister of Public Security and Deputy Leader of the Central Leading Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, indicates the primary goal of ensuring Xi’s security.

Given Xi Jinping’s increasingly frequent health issues, will he still be able to attend the 30th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover in 2027? 

(Published by People News)