What Sensitive Political Signal Does Wen Jiabao’s Handwritten Letter Send?

Former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

[People News] Recently, a handwritten letter by former Premier Wen Jiabao, dated December 23, 2024, addressed to Professor Yang Weiran of China University of Geosciences, has been circulating online, sparking widespread discussion.

The letter, written with a brush pen, is vertically aligned and uses a mix of traditional and simplified Chinese characters. Spanning six pages with over 800 characters, it was written on eight-line rice paper from Rongbaozhai, with a seal-script watermark reading "Eternal Glory" in the lower right corner of each page. The handwriting, a semi-cursive style, is neat and consistent, with a flowing rhythm. The posted images of the letter exude a sense of elegance, reminiscent of historical artifacts from the Republic of China era, evoking a unique temporal contrast. It is surprising to think this was penned by a former high-ranking CCP official, highlighting Wen Jiabao's distinctive personality. No wonder some netizens commented that “Premier Wen still lives in the Republican era.”

From the letter’s introduction, it is clear that Wen Jiabao was replying to Professor Yang Weiran. He referenced Yang’s letter dated September 10, as well as an attached academic paper, and a letter from Professor Zeng Wuxun dated September 4, along with a poetry collection from the university's “Geoscience Poetry Society.” Wen expressed his gratitude for these.

In the second section, Wen Jiabao offered condolences for the passing of Professors Li Shunxian and Wang Siyuan, extending his sympathies to their families. The main body of the letter discussed Wen Jiabao’s concerns about geological scientific research, his care for the academic community, and his unique insights and thoughts on frontier issues in geoscience. For someone who once navigated the political storms of Zhongnanhai, Wen's continued passion, care, and sense of responsibility for the natural sciences and academic circles are rare among high-ranking officials.

This is a private letter from Wen Jiabao. Given the opaque nature of the CCP's political system, it is generally difficult to access personal information about political figures, let alone verify its authenticity. For a private letter to appear online in its original form is inherently attention-grabbing. Moreover, private letters differ significantly from politically calibrated public speeches by leaders, revealing more about the humanity, inner emotions, and real life of the individual. Wen Jiabao’s use of brush calligraphy and traditional Chinese characters in this letter is striking, showing a rare depth of cultural literacy rooted in Chinese tradition. Some netizens commented, “This is something Xi Jinping, with his elementary-school-level education, can never match.”

Since his retirement, Wen Jiabao has had three letters publicly surface online. The first was also a handwritten brush-penned letter. On January 18, 2014, Hong Kong’s Ming Pao published a letter Wen wrote to former Hong Kong NPC delegate Wu Kangmin. In the letter, Wen emphasized that he had never, and would never, use his power for personal gain. He expressed his wish to live the remainder of his life with integrity, leaving the world as cleanly as he entered it. At that time, Wen was likely still a political ally of Xi Jinping, as he had joined forces with Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping before stepping down to remove Bo Xilai from power and support Xi’s rise.

The second letter surfaced between March 26 and April 6, 2021, when Wen Jiabao published four essays through Macau’s Herald Daily to commemorate his late mother. Through memories of his mother, Wen subtly criticized Xi Jinping’s return to Cultural Revolution-style governance and expressed dissatisfaction with his policies. The essays also reflected on Wen's own family history of suffering, emphasizing his hopes for social justice and fairness in China. These articles, initially shared on WeChat, were quickly censored by authorities, suggesting Wen had shifted from being Xi’s ally to becoming his critic.

The third letter is the one addressed to the professors at China University of Geosciences. From its content, this letter does not touch upon political or economic issues nor China’s current political and economic crises. Instead, it focuses solely on geological science. However, the scientific worldview expressed in Wen’s letter starkly contrasts with, and even clashes with, the ideological demands of the CCP and its current leadership.

In Wen Jiabao’s letter, there is no trace of the CCP’s formulaic propaganda language. Terms such as "Xi Jinping Thought," "Xi’s Core Leadership," or even Xi Jinping’s theoretical insights on scientific innovation are notably absent. There is also no mention of socialist values or the "scientific development concept" from the Hu-Wen era. Instead, Wen speaks with heartfelt sincerity, writing: “The fundamental reason I support and encourage the success of Earth Elegy is that science must integrate with culture and art.” “Geology students should learn some literature and art. This is of profound significance for promoting our country’s excellent cultural traditions and inspiring the creative thinking of young people.”

Wen Jiabao provides young scientists with a direction that emphasizes combining science with humanistic expression, rather than subordinating it to political or party-driven agendas. He highlights the enlightening role of Chinese traditional culture in fostering innovative scientific thinking. This stance runs entirely counter to Xi Jinping's political direction, which advocates for comprehensive party control. It could even be interpreted as a repudiation of Xi’s "technological self-reliance and innovation" agenda, which is rooted in a state-led scientific "Great Leap Forward" approach and a patriotic rivalry with the United States. Wen’s letter, written in a subtle and allusive style, appears to critique Xi’s ignorance and hubris.

Another reason this letter has sparked heated discussions is its timing, which seems to carry sensitive political signals. During this year’s National Day reception, Wen Jiabao and Li Ruihuan were reportedly treated as honored guests by Xi Jinping. This was interpreted by some as signaling a resurgence of political influence among retired leaders, alongside a significant weakening of Xi’s power. Subsequently, there has been an unprecedented shift in China’s economic policies since Xi’s rise to power, with speculation pointing to Wen Jiabao as a key behind-the-scenes driver.

Since the Third Plenum, rumors of Xi losing power and a potential leadership reshuffle in Zhongnanhai have become increasingly rampant. Notably, there has been widespread speculation that Xi has lost control over the military. Official disclosures have corroborated this narrative to some extent, particularly surrounding the detention of Miao Hua, head of the Central Military Commission’s Political Work Department. Following Miao’s detention, several of Xi’s military loyalists have fallen from power in rapid succession. Analysts argue that this wave of purges in the military is not a self-initiated cleanup by Xi, as such an explanation defies the logic of political struggle. Instead, it is widely seen as a move by Xi’s rivals—led by Zhang Youxia—to purge Xi’s proxies in the military as a prelude to further power consolidation.

Behind Zhang Youxia’s political clout, analysts generally identify figures like Wen Jiabao, Hu Jintao, and Li Ruihuan, along with elements of the second-generation "Red Nobility." While the exact source of Wen Jiabao’s letter’s leak remains unclear, its political signal and implications are undeniable. The anti-Xi faction appears to be using this opportunity to boost Wen’s political visibility and rally public and political support. By aligning with military figures such as Zhang Youxia, they are creating a coordinated effort to increase pressure on Xi Jinping, adding weight to the anti-Xi agenda, and escalating the political offensive against him.

(First published by People News)