Li Qiang Outshines Xi Jinping? Party Media Reports Show Anomalies Again

Beginning to Betray Xi? Li Qiang’s Weakest Support for Xi at the Two Sessions (AI-Generated Image)

[People News]Recently, rumours about the erosion of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping's power have been intensifying. Some reports even claim that former CCP Standing Committee member and Vice Premier Wang Yang is acting as the "interim General Secretary." Today (June 9), party media coverage of Xi's activities once again displayed irregularities, not only downplaying Xi Jinping in layout and content but also highlighting Premier Li Qiang between the lines, reigniting external attention to rumours of Xi's weakening authority.

The People's Daily, which traditionally places the General Secretary's activities on the front page, today led with a story about Tibet developing highland-specific agricultural and pastoral industries. Xi Jinping's activities were relegated to the second story, covering an exchange of congratulatory messages with Myanmar's leader, Min Aung Hlaing. The article, spanning just five paragraphs and over 600 words, summarised Xi's remarks in only two paragraphs, totalling about 200 words, with no mention of "Xi Thought," "Socialism in the New Era," or "Two Upholds" rhetoric.

Curiously, Li Qiang stole the spotlight. Not only was his exchange of messages with Min Aung Hlaing highlighted in the subtitle, but an entire paragraph was dedicated to emphasising his words: "I am willing to work with you to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperation between our two countries... to better benefit the people of both nations." The report portrayed Li Qiang as seemingly representing the Party and the state, adopting the tone of a top leader, overshadowing Xi Jinping.

On the CCP Foreign Ministry's website, the "eye-catching" section featured seven trivial old stories about Xi's telegrams, congratulatory messages, and letters, with the oldest dating back to May 24. On Xinhua's "Xi Jinping Special Reports" section under "Latest News," today's three "latest activities" were all retrospectives of events from past years, including a decade-old "story" written in a style that felt like a premature elegy for a loyal communist warrior, giving off a subtle "high-level black" (sarcastic criticism) vibe.

Recently, some media cited commentators speculating that Xi's office might have moved out of Yingtai, and rumors have emerged that Wang Yang is acting as the interim General Secretary.

U.S.-based commentator Tang Jingyuan analysed in his self-media program that on June 2, Xi Jinping met Belarusian President Lukashenko at Zhongnanhai's "Chunyizhai" rather than the usual Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. The Belarusian state news agency directly quoted Xi saying, "My office is right next door," suggesting that Xi's office may have moved out of Zhongnanhai's Yingtai island, reflecting a shift in his power.

Chunyizhai, located in the northwest corner of Fengze Garden, is considered an entertainment venue in Zhongnanhai, not a protocol location for meeting foreign heads of state. Public records show that since the CCP seized power, its leaders' offices have traditionally been located on Yingtai Island in Zhongnanhai.

In this meeting, the CCP mouthpiece CCTV unusually muted Xi Jinping's original voice entirely. However, a video released by Belarusian state media Belta on YouTube revealed highly sensitive details, including the translator adding or altering Xi's words. For example, Xi said, "My office is right next door," but the translator rendered it as "My office is nearby." The translator also inserted phrases like "let's have lunch together" and "this is the first time I've welcomed you here." For a translator to make such unauthorised changes is highly taboo and could invite severe consequences.

Tang Jingyuan believes a plausible explanation is that the CCP translator was following a script prearranged by a "new central leadership." In other words, Xi's meeting with Lukashenko was choreographed by a new central authority controlling the narrative, though Xi may not have been fully willing to comply.

Independent commentator "Xiaoshuojia" claimed in a self-media post that Wang Yang has secretly reemerged and is acting as the interim General Secretary. "When I first saw this news, I wasn’t fully convinced because it needed political evidence, so I didn’t report it," he said.

"Xiaoshuojia" cited three pieces of evidence to support Wang Yang's interim role: First, the May Politburo meeting was not held, suggesting an expanded Politburo meeting has replaced the regular one, with elders controlling the political situation. Second, Xi Jinping has not appeared publicly for over ten days. Third, the sudden dismissal of Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong and deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office. Given the black-box nature of CCP high-level politics, no concrete evidence has yet confirmed these rumours. However, such rumours, to a large extent, reflect public sentiment and dissatisfaction with the CCP's authoritarian rule, as well as hopes for freedom and democratic change in China.

Commentator Li Muyang, in his program News Insight, revealed a tip from a netizen claiming that the CCP held a secret meeting on May 27, where Xi Jinping proactively offered to resign, hoping for approval at the Fourth Plenary Session. Most former Standing Committee members reportedly supported and demanded Xi's resignation. The source claimed Xi nominated Wang Yang as his successor while firmly opposing Hu Chunhua. Xi also raised security demands, including protection for himself, his family—especially his sister, brother, and daughter—and a guarantee that no retaliatory actions would target memorials to his father, Xi Zhongxun.

(People News Exclusive)