The picture shows Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, attending the National People&9;s Congress on March 12, 2023. (Screenshot from the web)
[People News] Recently, Cai Qi, ranked fifth among the 'big managers' in Zhongnanhai, was unexpectedly elevated to the status of 'de facto number two' by The Economist, the most authoritative political and economic media in the West. Shortly thereafter, even more astonishing revelations surfaced: at the Fifth Plenary Session, Cai Qi is set to succeed, with Xi stepping down and Cai taking over. Is this truly the pinnacle of Cai Qi's power, or is it a 'trap of flattery' laid by his rivals? If Cai Qi becomes the 'number two', does that mean he is indeed the destined successor?
As the news of 'Cai taking over, Xi stepping down' stirred up a storm, a fire suddenly erupted in Cai Qi's backyard. Internal sources suggest that Cai Qi's nephew-in-law was secretly taken away, uncovering a hidden money laundering empire that spans Fujian, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia, involving assets worth hundreds of billions. This serves as a significant warning: when you are perceived as disloyal, that person can grant you power, but can also uproot your 'financial resources' and 'political foundation' at any moment.
'Flattery trap' - the death knell for the 'number two'
Recently, a report from The Economist sent shockwaves through Zhongnanhai. It boldly asserted that Cai Qi is China's 'de facto number two'. In the political logic of the Communist Party, this is essentially a death knell.
The report highlighted that Cai Qi's current status has far exceeded his fifth position in the Standing Committee. He not only possesses the sole key to Xi Jinping's office but also exhibits a pervasive influence in national security, ideology, and even foreign affairs.
However, the issue lies in the fact that within the lexicon of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) totalitarian regime, there has never been any genuine space for a 'number two' to thrive.
Reflecting on history, we see that throughout the CCP's past, those designated as 'successors' or 'number twos' have almost invariably met tragic fates. From Liu Shaoqi, who was effectively persecuted to death, to Lin Biao, who perished in a failed escape from Wudalianchi, and Zhao Ziyang, who was placed under house arrest until his death. This is not merely a series of personal tragedies; it represents a fundamental law of the regime: absolute power does not permit any form of sharing, regardless of how loyal the individual may seem.
At present, there appears to be a peculiar consensus that among the 'successors' endorsed by foreign media and overseas public opinion, nearly none have managed to secure a safe position.
This autumn, the CCP is set to hold its Fifth Plenary Session. During this meeting, critical signals regarding high-level personnel arrangements for the '21st National Congress' and whether Xi Jinping will initiate a 'power transfer' will become clearer. As international media begin to sensationalise 'Cai Qi as the successor,' and rumours of 'Xi stepping down and Cai stepping up' circulate, this is certainly not a positive development for Cai Qi; rather, it heralds impending danger.
So, where is this wave of succession rumours, which could potentially lead to Cai Qi's downfall, originating from? Currently, there are three unsettling speculations circulating in Beijing's political landscape:
Firstly, the 'Fujian Gang' led by Cai Qi is in a rush for quick achievements. Amid various rumours about Xi Jinping's health, officials within the Fujian Gang who are aligned with Cai Qi are in urgent need of a title to stabilise the morale of their ranks. They might be signalling internally that 'Director Cai is about to be officially recognised,' trying to gain a psychological edge ahead of the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session. However, in Xi Jinping's view, this behaviour is akin to testing the waters on the brink of 'usurpation.'
Secondly, this is a meticulously crafted 'supportive assassination' strategy by political adversaries.
In the power game, the most lethal tactic is to thrust an opponent into the spotlight. Those factions observing from the sidelines, whether it be the Xi family army's Zhejiang New Army or the newly emerging technocrats, are acutely aware of Xi Jinping's paranoia. By utilising overseas media and public rumours, they are portraying Cai Qi as a 'power threat,' a 'strongman ready to take over at any moment,' which effectively pricks Xi Jinping's conscience.
Thirdly, and perhaps the most ruthless possibility, is that this is a 'snake out of the hole' script personally authored by Xi Jinping.
By intentionally bestowing Cai Qi with extraordinary honours and making him appear all-powerful, the goal is to gauge Cai Qi's response to such extreme temptations of power while simultaneously drawing fire from all factions within the party. Cai Qi has been thrust to the forefront, serving as both a shield and the ultimate test of loyalty for Xi Jinping.
As the Fifth Plenary Session draws near, Cai Qi has been placed on a pedestal at this critical moment. While the world watches how this 'number two figure' will rise to the top, few have noticed that Xi Jinping's other hand has quietly reached for the 'purse' of the Cai Qi family.
Breaking news—The shocking details of the case involving Cai Qi's nephew-in-law.
In the power dynamics of Zhongnanhai, there exists an unwritten rule: directly targeting a high-ranking Standing Committee member is too risky; the most effective and dangerous strategy is to 'cut off their wings and sever their family ties.'
According to the latest revelations from Australian self-media figure Jiang Wangzheng, who claims to have deep ties to the political circles of Fujian and Zhejiang, Cai Qi's nephew-in-law has been secretly taken away by a special investigation team from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and is currently unreachable.
This is far from an ordinary case of nepotistic corruption. In the political context of the Chinese Communist Party, investigating someone at the 'nephew-in-law' level indicates that the investigation team has acquired leverage capable of disrupting the entire family interest chain.
Why focus on the nephew-in-law? Because he is not just any family member, he serves as the 'chief financial officer' of the Cai Qi family’s interest empire.
Cai Qi's wife is an official in the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Central Committee, and her brother was Lin Fen, the political commissar of the Public Security Bureau in Fuding City. However, it is peculiar that, according to Baidu in mainland China, on March 31, 2025, the Fuding City People's Government decided to remove Comrade Lin Fen from his position as political commissar of the Public Security Bureau after deliberation. Yet, when accessing the Fuding City Government website, this dismissal announcement shows a '404' error. Whether Lin Fen has actually been dismissed and whether Cai Qi intervened to assist him remains uncertain.
And this 'nephew-in-law' is the son-in-law of Lin Fen.
Reports indicate that this nephew-in-law has been deeply entrenched in finance and capital markets for a long time. His role is particularly significant, as he serves as one of the key "white gloves" connecting the Fujian faction with both the capital and overseas interests. Over the years, he has exploited Cai Qi's influence in Fujian, Zhejiang, and even Beijing, manoeuvring through the grey areas of financial regulation and policy to allocate assets for the senior members of the Fujian faction and their associated interest groups.
The timing of this investigation sends a clear political message: Xi Jinping's "favour" towards Cai Qi has its boundaries, and that boundary is defined by "absolute control."
Xi Jinping understands that Cai Qi's ability to act as the "big steward" stems from his portrayal as a loyal retainer without any escape routes or personal ambitions. However, if this retainer begins to operate behind the master's back, using family members to create a vast economic network or even establishing a hedge fund pool abroad, then what was once seen as "loyalty" could turn into potential betrayal.
This concept is referred to as "cutting off the rear" in political terms.
"Cutting off the rear" means completely severing Cai Qi's secular support as a political leader. Within the upper ranks of the Communist Party, if your family members are under investigation and your "white gloves" are arrested, it indicates that your economic lifeline has been cut. Even if you remain in your position on the Standing Committee and continue to oversee the General Office, your power is compromised.
For Xi Jinping, pursuing the investigation of Cai Qi's nephew-in-law is a strategic move that achieves multiple objectives:
Firstly, it serves as a means of humiliation and intimidation. It demonstrates to the entire party that even someone as influential as Cai Qi can face repercussions at any moment if Xi Jinping chooses to act. This acts as a warning to Cai Qi: your power is derived from me and can be revoked at any time.
Secondly, it involves gathering resources. By taking control of the account book held by the nephew-in-law, one effectively seizes the economic Achilles' heel of the Cai Qi family and the entire Fujian Gang. This serves as a 'political loyalty oath,' leaving Cai Qi with no room for negotiation at the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session, other than to bow and comply.
Thirdly, it aims to draw out bigger fish. The case involving the nephew-in-law is merely a prelude; behind it lies a secret empire that spans thousands of kilometres and involves assets worth hundreds of billions.
The revelation - the collapse of the Fujian Gang's money laundering empire.
If Cai Qi's power can be likened to a large tree growing within the red walls, then the money laundering network of the Fujian Gang is akin to a root system buried deep underground, continuously supplying vital nutrients.
Jiang Wangzheng disclosed that Xi Jinping personally ordered the investigation into Cai Qi's nephew-in-law, not merely for the hundreds of millions or tens of billions in corruption accounts, but to expose the 'Fujian Gang's money laundering network' that could potentially undermine the country's foundations.
In Fujian, there exists a group of enigmatic businessmen. Domestically, they may be real estate magnates or cross-border e-commerce giants, but abroad, they function as the 'financial special forces' of the Fujian Gang's elite. Jiang Wangzheng noted that these intermediaries exploit the authority of Cai Qi's nephew-in-law within the financial regulatory system to create a highly sophisticated underground banking network.
This network originates from Fuzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian, with transit points in Hong Kong and Singapore. Through a method known as 'internal and external hedging'—which involves saving money domestically and withdrawing it overseas—the Fujian Gang has laundered substantial amounts of politically sourced donations into legitimate overseas investments.
Jiang Wangzheng's revelations highlight a particularly alarming detail regarding Southeast Asia. Why does Cai Qi's nephew-in-law frequently travel to Cambodia and Myanmar? These locations serve as the 'political laundering machine' for the Fujian Gang. Behind the lavish casinos in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville lie the core economic accounts of the Fujian Gang.
These casinos not only launder gambling money but also function as a 'safe haven' for high-ranking members of the Fujian Gang to manage their overseas assets. By investing in infrastructure projects or film and television ventures in Southeast Asia, the Fujian Gang has successfully constructed a 'foreign refuge' costing hundreds of billions, all under Xi Jinping's watch.
So why is Xi Jinping taking action now? Because this money laundering system has transitioned from being 'self-serving' to 'detrimental to the master.' In the current dire situation of foreign exchange shortages and economic decline in China, the large-scale capital flight orchestrated by the Fujian Gang is perceived by Xi Jinping as a blatant betrayal of his financial security strategy.
According to Jiang Wangzheng's disclosures, after Cai Qi's nephew-in-law was detained, the special investigation team acquired a list of overseas assets labelled as 'top secret.' This list details the family trust addresses and safe deposit box numbers of several prominent figures from the Fujian Gang abroad, and even includes some 'political donations' linked to the core power dynamics in Beijing.
This represents the Achilles' heel of the Fujian Gang. While Cai Qi proclaims 'absolute loyalty' on stage, his relatives are busy transferring assets behind the scenes. This is not merely an anti-corruption initiative; it is a direct assault on the economic foundation of the Fujian Gang. Without their financial backing, how can the Fujian Gang sustain their political aspirations of being the 'successors to the Fifth Plenary Session'?
At the Fifth Plenary Session, is Cai Qi going to 'succeed' or is he merely going to 'receive a penalty ticket'?
Confrontation - The Real Script of the Fifth Plenary Session
Currently, rumours are circulating in Beijing's political circles about 'Xi down, Cai up', with some even suggesting that Cai Qi has secured a ticket for succession. As he is thrust into the spotlight as a potential 'successor', every action he takes is closely monitored by the other five members of the Standing Committee. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping has already investigated his niece's husband, effectively dismantling Cai Qi's 'political fund'—the financial resources of the Fujian faction. A 'successor' who lacks money, a faction, and only holds a hollow title is nothing more than a porcelain doll on Xi Jinping's desk, ready to be shattered at any moment.
At the Fifth Plenary Session, what Cai Qi may face is not an ascension but rather a brutal self-destruction. According to leaks, Xi Jinping might require Cai Qi to personally oversee the rectification of 'financial security' and 'factional cliques' during the meeting. This means that Cai Qi will have to publicly renounce the Fujian faction and cut ties with those old subordinates who assisted him in laundering money and rising to power. This 'loyalty oath' will completely sever all of Cai Qi's escape routes within the party, leaving him with no political prospects other than to rely on Xi Jinping.
If 'Xi down, Cai up' truly becomes the so-called 'trend of the times', then Cai Qi will have genuinely entered a perilous 'Lin Biao moment'.
Within the Chinese Communist Party system, the highest leader fears not enemies, but rather the individual 'already prepared to succeed'. Is Cai Qi truly Xi Jinping's last loyal minister, or is he an ambitious figure who has already set everything in motion, waiting for the curtain to fall? In the power game, the distance from the altar to the abyss is often just a thin line.
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