Xi Jinping’s Aging and Waning Power Make Re-Election Difficult

On March 19, while touring Lijiang, Xi Jinping hesitated over the pronunciation of "Bu Nong Ling" due to his low level of education and fear of misreading the characters. (Screenshot composite from video)

[People News] In recent days, CCP leader Xi Jinping has been on an inspection tour in Guizhou and Yunnan. Videos posted by netizens reveal that Xi appears to be moving slowly, with graying hair, a fatigued expression, and a forced smile, all signs of physical decline.

According to CCP state media, from March 17 to 18, Xi visited various locations in Guizhou, including the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture and Guiyang City, accompanied by Guizhou Party Secretary Xu Lin and Governor Li Bingjun. He was also escorted by Politburo Standing Committee member and Director of the General Office of the CCP Central Committee, Cai Qi, as well as Politburo member and Vice Premier He Lifeng.

From March 19 to 20, Xi traveled to Lijiang and Kunming in Yunnan Province, accompanied by Yunnan Party Secretary Wang Ning and Governor Wang Yubo for inspections.

Videos circulating online show that Xi was heavily guarded wherever he went, walking slowly while surrounded by layers of security personnel. His figure appeared bloated, leading netizens to speculate that he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

On March 19, while touring Lijiang, Xi Jinping came across a traditional building with a plaque displaying three Chinese characters: “Bu Nong Ling” (布農鈴). Due to his limited education and fear of mispronouncing the words, he hesitated and openly asked how to read them. This moment quickly went viral online.

Local netizens revealed that entire towns along Xi’s route were placed under lockdown. Ordinary residents faced severe restrictions on their movement, were banned from taking photos or even opening their windows, and Tesla vehicles were subjected to strict controls.

Users on the overseas X platform have voiced their opinions, stating, "Incompetent in governance, skilled at disturbing the public," "putting on a show," "causing disturbances everywhere!" "What are you afraid of? Such a thick bulletproof vest?" "How many layers does this bulletproof vest have? It's bulky and exaggerated," "There are so many follow-up hawks," and "All the tourists must be undercover actors, right?".

Others remarked, "I haven't dyed my hair in a long time," "looking old and frail," "I don't see any satisfaction, only desolation, but I do see a glimmer of hope!"

On March 20, independent commentator Cai Shenkun (蔡慎坤) shared a post on the X platform along with screenshots of netizens' comments. The content revealed that during Xi Jinping's inspection of Guizhou, nearly a thousand personnel from public security, market supervision, taxation, and some armed police units were dispatched from twelve counties in Qiandongnan Prefecture, dressed in plain clothes, and rehearsed for a week. Indigenous residents of Zhaoxing Dong Village were relocated to Liping County to impersonate ordinary citizens, staying in local hotels for a week to acclimate to the environment.

The post noted: "After nearly half a month of turmoil, wasting people's efforts and resources for just over two hours. Previously, the Dong Village was cleaned up, with the environment tidied, and cherry blossom and pear trees moved to the Dong Village to enhance the spring scenery. The government covered the costs for the Dong girls' new traditional costumes, and the road from Liping Airport to Zhaoxing Dong Village was widened and paved with granite. Nearly a thousand participants received a daily subsidy of 300 yuan (RMB), which was deposited into their personal accounts as a one-time payment for the week. This was the arrangement for the inspection; the real issues were not addressed, while the falsehoods fostered a sense of self-righteousness, leading to a false sense of well-being and the belief that their leadership was effective, considering themselves the leaders of the people."

Cai Shenkun remarked that Xi Jinping is essentially 'leading the way in violating the Eight Regulations' at every turn, and it remains to be seen how Cai Qi and Li Xi will respond.

Since the Third Plenary Session last July, there has been a steady flow of insider information from within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), revealing that Xi Jinping has faced repeated criticism from party elders for his inadequate work performance and for being responsible for various issues related to China's economy and foreign affairs. Additionally, there have been reports of Xi Jinping experiencing health issues, alongside the investigation and downfall of numerous officials and high-ranking military leaders whom he personally promoted, resulting in a gradual erosion of his power. Recent insider reports have explicitly stated that Xi Jinping will not seek re-election, with the likely successor being the current Premier Li Qiang.

The authoritarian and dictatorial nature of the CCP dictates that its governance operates in a black box, where the appointment, promotion, and punishment of officials are outcomes of factional power struggles, both overt and covert. Furthermore, party discipline supersedes national law, shrouded in secrecy, with the fate of one billion Chinese citizens manipulated by this opaque system. As the factional conflicts within the CCP are primarily driven by the interests of small groups, policies that are detrimental to the nation and its people are frequently enacted, with the resulting losses falling entirely on the common populace. Consequently, the general public feels bewildered and sees no future ahead. Increasingly, more Chinese citizens are coming to understand the true nature of the CCP, and they have uncovered a crucial truth: only by ending the CCP's rule and discarding blind faith in the Communist Party can the future of the Chinese people be restored to brightness.