Zhongnanhai Leadership Not United: Many in Xi Jinping’s Circle Harbor Disloyalty

CIA Director John Ratcliffe believes the video can break through the "Great Firewall" and reach the intended audience. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the political situation in Zhongnanhai lies a turbulent undercurrent. Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, it is said that as many as 430,000 individuals have been investigated up to April 2024. Despite Xi's iron-fisted rule, there are many within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership who harbour disloyalty. Analysts say the CCP is far from monolithic; discontent among officials is mounting, and many senior figures with differing governance ideologies are ripe for defection.

Professor Ming Juzheng, Chair of the Political Science Department at National Taiwan University, recently stated in an interview with Taiwanese host Xiaojun that the CCP leadership is not a solid bloc. “If the Communist Party were truly united, they would have attacked Taiwan long ago,” he said.

Professor Ming explained that the internal divisions are precisely why the regime faces both internal and external crises. He pointed out two main factions within the top ranks: the pro-democracy faction and the pro-Taiwan faction.

These groups partially overlap but are not identical. Some members want to democratize China but are still willing to attack Taiwan. Others are pro-Taiwan but not necessarily in favour of democratisation. There is overlap, but they are not fully aligned.

In response to the host's question about whether it's possible to turn senior CCP officials against the regime, Professor Ming stated that it is indeed possible.

"If we come up with the right slogans and take appropriate actions, we can persuade high-ranking officials to defect," said Professor Ming.

He added, “About a month ago, the CIA produced two Chinese-language videos publicly appealing to CCP officials to come work for them. The message was: ‘Come to the CIA and become my informant, and I’ll protect you.’ In other words, the U.S. clearly sees the potential for defection. Since we share the same language and culture, it should be even easier for us to make this happen.”

In early May, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released two Hollywood-style promotional videos, each three minutes long, calling on CCP officials to serve American interests. The Chinese-language videos were posted on global social media platforms and encouraged Chinese officials—both senior and grassroots—to “take control of their destiny” and that “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” The videos also explained how to securely contact the CIA through the dark web to ensure the safety and well-being of themselves and their families.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the first video was aimed at high-level CCP officials. According to U.S. intelligence, some of them are likely disillusioned with the CCP regime and willing to leak insider information.

In the video, a character portraying a senior official says, “As I climbed the ranks, I watched those above me discarded like worn-out shoes.” The video highlights the intense political infighting within the CCP, where many have witnessed their peers being dismissed, imprisoned, or even “disappearing.”

The second video targets grassroots CCP officials, with Ratcliffe noting that their prospects for promotion are slim, and their work ultimately benefits only the upper echelons of the regime.

Former CCP insider Du Wen recently stated on his program that resentment among the CCP’s top ranks is boiling over, with many harbouring disloyal thoughts.

On July 12, former Peking University professor and legal scholar Yuan Hongbing revealed that in late May, a Chinese diplomat defected to Russia and handed over a top-secret document as a gesture of allegiance. The document reportedly outlines two contingency plans the CCP has prepared in the event that Russia is defeated in Ukraine and the Putin regime collapses. The leak of this document has caused great alarm within the Chinese leadership.

Last year, Yuan also told The Epoch Times that more purges would occur in 2025. According to him, Xi Jinping now relies solely on a “super Jinyiwei”-style surveillance state—an ultra-technologically advanced secret police system—to maintain control. However, it is impossible to demand absolute loyalty from all officials. Sources within the CCP say that mocking and belittling Xi behind closed doors is now common, and acts of rebellion could erupt at any moment.

(Original article first published by People News)