Hu Jintao Redeems Himself, Tuanpai Returns – Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua to Jointly Succeed Xi?

Composite image: Hu Chunhua and Wang Yang are rumored to become successors.

[People News] Recently, rumours have been swirling that Xi Jinping has lost power and is being pressured to step down. At the same time, talk of potential successors has resurfaced. According to revelations by overseas independent media figures, Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua have been designated as joint successors by Zhang Youxia and Hu Jintao. Wang Yang is to assume the position of General Secretary, while Hu Chunhua would serve as Premier. This would mark the return of the Tuanpai (Communist Youth League faction), allowing Hu Jintao to redeem the humiliation suffered by the Tuanpai’s “total annihilation” at the 20th Party Congress.

Officials who have served in the Communist Youth League Central Committee are typically identified as Tuanpai members, with prominent figures including Hu Jintao, Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, and Hu Chunhua. At the 20th Party Congress held in October 2022, it was confirmed that Li Keqiang and Wang Yang would not continue as Politburo Standing Committee members. Hu Chunhua, once seen as the last remaining Tuanpai protégé—serving two terms as a Politburo member and as Vice Premier—was also unexpectedly ousted at the last moment. Not only did he fail to enter the Standing Committee, but he was not even retained as an ordinary Politburo member or alternate.

Hu Jintao, Hu Chunhua’s political patron, was publicly humiliated during the closing ceremony of the 20th Party Congress when he attempted to look at the final delegate roster and was forcibly escorted out of the venue by security guards on Xi Jinping’s orders. The sight of the former party leader being humiliated in front of the world shocked observers globally.

Signals of Hu Chunhua’s Political Comeback Intensify

On May 22, a user on the overseas platform X (formerly Twitter) named “Global Breaking News” posted that a Douyin (TikTok China) livestreamer publicly predicted Xi Jinping would not remain in power for more than five more years. According to the livestreamer, the next successor would be “the adopted son of a former boss.” In the comment section, some speculated the figure could be Hu Chunhua, Hu Haifeng, or even “General Xia.” The streamer emphasised that the successor is “the godson of a former boss surnamed Hu” and added, “I’ve said it as clearly as I can.”

The livestream was promptly shut down.

Rumours of the “deposed crown prince” Hu Chunhua making a comeback have attracted growing attention, particularly as his public activities have become more frequent.

On May 25, Xinhua News Agency reported that Hu Chunhua visited the Vietnamese Embassy in China to offer condolences for the recent passing of former Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The news drew attention and was interpreted as a sign of Hu’s political resurgence.

Political commentator Wen Zhao noted that Xinhua’s report was unusually brief and purely factual—an atypical style for the outlet, which typically embeds significant subtext in its messaging. Wen Zhao argued this was the latest in a series of unusual signals surrounding Hu Chunhua.

Earlier, from April 8 to 17, Hu Chunhua led a delegation to visit Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. He met with Nigerian Senate President Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen, and Foreign Minister Tuggar; Ivorian Prime Minister Mambé, National Assembly Speaker Bictogo, and a senior presidential representative; and Senegalese President Faye and Speaker Ndiaye.

Wen Zhao highlighted three unusual elements of this trip, all aligning with speculation about a Tuanpai comeback:

1. Hu Chunhua's trip to Africa occurred simultaneously with Xi Jinping’s visits to three Southeast Asian countries, forming part of the CCP’s “Peripheral Community of Shared Destiny” strategy.

2. This “Community of Shared Destiny” strategy has four main geographic blocks: Southeast Asia, Russia, Latin America, and Africa. Xi handled the other three, while Hu was entrusted with Africa, implying a significant role.

3. Normally, such diplomatic missions would be led by someone like CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning or a vice chairman of the National People's Congress. That Hu Chunhua—a sidelined “former crown prince”—was chosen instead strongly suggests a political revival.

Reportedly, overseas sources claim Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao now control real power in Zhongnanhai. Hu Chunhua's return to a successor role is seen as aligned with the hopes of the Hu-Wen faction.

Independent commentator Cai Shenkun posted on social media on May 6, asserting that the next person to succeed Xi would not be Hu Chunhua but rather current Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. Cai claimed to have received inside information that party elders have lost patience and are collectively pressuring Xi to step down, hinting that the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session will bring major changes.

Regarding the current wave of rumors about the CCP leadership, Wen Zhao stated he actively analyzes and amplifies rumors with a reasonable basis, even in the absence of solid evidence. “Because there really are unusual developments happening within the CCP leadership,” Wen said. He emphasised that rumour-mongering and "bedside listening" are among the few tools available to anti-CCP voices, capable of awakening public interest and applying pressure for truth.

Wang Yang Leads Hu Chunhua on the Successor List

Another prominent Tuanpai figure, Wang Yang, has also been rumored as a successor—possibly ahead of Hu Chunhua—positioning him as the next General Secretary. According to the overseas media account “Xiao Shuo Jia,” the source of this information is highly credible, given Wang’s superior political résumé and experience. “Hu Chunhua is trailing behind because he never made it into the Politburo Standing Committee, whereas Wang Yang did—he was just forced into early retirement at the 20th Congress. Other than his age and retired status, Wang is the perfect candidate,” the account stated.

According to “Xiao Shuo Jia,” anti-Xi factions are weighing both Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua as successors. “If Wang Yang appears at the 2025 (93rd anniversary) military parade, he will be the top leader. Having Wang as a transitional figure until the 21st Party Congress, then handing off to Hu Chunhua, is the safest plan. Hu can serve as Premier first, gain some accomplishments within the Standing Committee, and then transition into General Secretary.”

Wang Yang, when serving as Party Secretary of Guangdong Province, advocated for handling the Wukan village protests with a moderate approach, distinguishing himself as one of the few reform-minded figures among the CCP leadership at the time. At the 11th Guangdong Provincial Party Congress, Wang stated in his report, “We must break the mistaken belief that the people’s happiness is a gift from the Party and government.”

Political commentator Jiang Feng noted that Xi Jinping’s decade of consolidating power has left behind a disastrous situation. If the party now needs someone capable of balancing various internal factions, pacifying the military elite and party elders, and avoiding societal upheaval, Wang Yang may be the “safest” choice. “Although he has strong Tuanpai ties, he doesn’t have the same intense political drive as Li Keqiang or the ‘crown prince’ pressure that Hu Chunhua carries. He is methodical and not radical, making him a suitable ‘transitional General Secretary.’”

However, Jiang emphasized that even if Xi steps down and Wang and Hu succeed him, China’s situation won't immediately improve. The CCP has mutated into a party of capitalist elites. From originally targeting landlords and the wealthy, it has evolved into an apparatus that plunders society’s resources. Reform now would mean the elite losing control over assets and power, and the public demanding the return of land and rights. “Who dares to rehabilitate Falun Gong? Who dares to redress June Fourth? China’s spiritual awakening and institutional rebirth would require a reckoning with the CCP.”

Jiang concluded that the CCP has only one way forward: admitting its mistakes. Only then can there be reconciliation and a real future. “It’s not just about changing the person at the top and pretending the past ten years didn’t go wrong.” Jiang believes that while the identity of the successor matters, what’s more important is whether the nation can overcome fear and choose hope again.