New political changes in Beijing at the beginning of 2025

 Direct translation

Zhong Yuan: New political changes in Beijing at the beginning of 2025

Editor : Gao Yi / https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/1/9/n14410151.htm / Image : On 4 March 2024, before the CPPCC meeting, a reporter used his mobile phone to take pictures of the scene inside the Great Hall of the People. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

At the beginning of 2025, there were new changes in Beijing’s political struggle. At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, the Central Secretariat headed by Cai Qi was no longer praised, but was instead asked to "strictly strengthen its own construction." The plenary session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission no longer calls for studying "Xi Jinping Thought" with "heart, emotion and deep understanding"; nor does it call for "unswervingly" shouldering the important political responsibility of "two safeguards". The Chinese Communist Party’s military newspaper reiterated the “Chairman of the Central Military Commission’s responsibility system,” but put the “Party Central Committee” and the Central Military Commission in front. Xi Jinping's own speeches remain restricted.

Politburo Standing Committee members are unwilling to go to the front line of disaster relief

Xinhua News Agency reported that on 9 January 2025, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China held a full-day meeting to listen to work reports from the Party groups of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the courts, the procuratorates and the Central Secretariat. On the same day, Xinhua News Agency reported that on January 9, the Political Bureau Standing Committee held a meeting to study and deploy earthquake relief work in Dingri, Tibet.

The Politburo Standing Committee did not hold two meetings on the same day, but when the earthquake occurred in Tibet, the Politburo Standing Committee listened to work reports from the five major teams throughout the day. I'm afraid they were worried about being criticized. Xinhua News Agency could only report the meeting twice, specifically publicizing that the Political Bureau Standing Committee was studying earthquake relief efforts. However, the earthquake occurred in Tibet on 7 January 2025 but the Politburo Standing Committee only held a meeting to study the matter on 9 January 2025 and put on a show later, which is difficult to justify.

Earthquake relief should be just a small topic added temporarily to the full-day meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee. Regarding the so-called disaster relief "deployment", the Politburo Standing Committee members only gave meaningless instructions symbolically, including "do the work more carefully" ... continue to carry out rescue and relief work... make every effort to treat the injured... and ensure the basic living needs of the affected people."

These are all useless official language and nonsense. The real deployment should be how to implement the above content in detail and what specific help the central government can provide but none of them are mentioned.

The meeting also stated, "We must do a good job in maintaining social stability, promptly investigate and resolve all kinds of conflicts and disputes, and do a good job in publishing authoritative information."

This is probably the issue that the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party are most worried about. They are afraid that ineffective rescue efforts will trigger the anger of local people, and they are also afraid that negative information will increase the political burden. The New Year's earthquake is another sign of the CCP's demise, so the CCP is naturally afraid.

At the end of the meeting, it was also requested that "local party committees and governments should earnestly shoulder their political responsibilities, all relevant parties should closely coordinate and cooperate, and cadres at all levels should stick to the front line and go all out."

The responsibility for disaster relief was pushed onto lower-level officials, who were asked to "stay on the front line"; but the members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China were unwilling to go to the front line. All of them wanted to stay in Beijing and continue to be busy fighting for power in the new year.

Image : Houses are damaged after an earthquake struck the Shigatse region of Tibet on 7 January 2025. (Handout/AFP)

Changes in the Politburo Standing Committee meetings at the beginning of the year

The Politburo Standing Committee listened to work reports from the five major teams and the Central Secretariat but did not make the content of the reports public. They only repeated general clichés. However, some changes are still intriguing.

A year ago, on 4 January 2024, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China also held a full-day meeting to listen to the above work report; at that time, it was proposed that in 2024, "we must adhere to the highest political principle of centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, focus on promoting Chinese-style modernization, and strive to achieve the goal of building a modern socialist country with a modern socialist country and a modern socialist country with a modern socialist country." The biggest politics... forming an ensemble under the unified command of the Party Central Committee."

A year later, on 9 January 2025, the meeting only proposed that in 2025 "we must adhere to the highest political principle of centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee... to ensure that all decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee are implemented."

"The biggest politics of Chinese-style modernization" will no longer be mentioned in 2025; "forming an ensemble under the unified command of the Party Central Committee" is also not an option.

The leader of the Chinese Communist Party proposed at the end of 2023 and the end of 2024 that "Chinese-style modernization" was the "biggest politics", which was officially removed a year later. The CCP's line struggle should be fierce. In today's "Central Committee of the Party", the role of Xi Jinping as the core has been greatly reduced, and it is no longer appropriate to talk about "ensemble".

The CPC Central Committee Secretariat was demoted

A year ago, the Politburo Standing Committee said, "The new Central Secretariat has taken the initiative and done a lot of effective work."

After the 20th National Congress, Cai Qi became the top-ranked secretary of the Secretariat. This rare evaluation in early 2024 was seen as Xi Jinping deliberately elevating Cai Qi.

However, the Political Bureau Standing Committee meeting in early 2025 only evaluated the Central Secretariat as "doing a lot of work"; compared with the "a lot of effective work" a year ago, the word "effective" is missing; it is equivalent to saying that the Central Secretariat A lot of "ineffective" work has been done.

The meeting also proposed that the Central Secretariat should "strictly strengthen its own construction and complete all tasks assigned by the Party Central Committee with high quality."

This is equivalent to saying that the Central Secretariat has limited capabilities and is unable to "complete the assigned tasks with high quality."

A meeting a year ago proposed that the Central Secretariat should "improve its level of deliberation and work... and continue to complete the tasks assigned by the Party Central Committee."

At that time, the Central Secretariat was considered to need to "improve its level of deliberation and work"; a year later, it was required to "strictly strengthen its own construction" and "complete its work with high quality", indicating that the Central Secretariat's ability level was still relatively low.

There are currently seven secretaries of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, with Cai Qi ranking first, followed by Politburo members Shi Taifeng, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, and Chen Wenqing, as well as Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Liu Jinguo and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, all of whom were promoted by Xi Jinping. To belittle the Central Secretariat is to belittle Xi Jinping. As Xi Jinping fades, Cai Qi's status seems to be declining as well.

In the past, the Politburo Standing Committee meeting at the beginning of each year was the first appearance of the top leadership of the Communist Party of China in the new year. The five major teams actually reported their work to Xi Jinping, and it was also a way for Xi Jinping to demonstrate that he held great power. But at the beginning of 2025, the plenary session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission was held first, followed by the Politburo Standing Committee meeting. Such a change is probably also a result of the power struggle in Zhongnanhai; the changes in the plenary session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission seem to be even greater.

Major changes in the communiqué of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission plenary session

From 6 to 8 January 2025, the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission held its fourth plenary session. A year ago, from 8 to 10 January 2024, the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission held its third plenary session. Xi Jinping attended and spoke at both meetings.

The communiqué of the third plenary session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission a year ago stated that Xi Jinping’s speech “clearly put forward the practical requirements of the ‘nine principles’ for advancing self-revolution…it condensed the rich practical experience and important theoretical achievements of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party in the new era, It has gathered a high degree of consensus among the entire party"; and stated that the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection will "study Xi Jinping Thought with heart and emotion and comprehend it in detail"; and "unswervingly" shoulder the important political responsibility of "two safeguards".

These words praising Xi Jinping disappeared a year later and did not appear in the communiqué of the Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in 2025.

A communiqué issued a year ago also stated that it is necessary to "strengthen political supervision" in accordance with the requirements of "Xi Jinping Thought."

The 2025 communiqué stated that it was necessary to act in accordance with the major arrangements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee; although "Xi Jinping Thought" was also mentioned, it was clearly downgraded.

A year ago, the communiqué also stated that since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping has led the entire Party to "creatively put forward a series of original and iconic new concepts, ideas and strategies... opening up a new realm of self-revolution"; it is "theoretical innovation "New achievements have been made"; it is a "new chapter" of "Xi Jinping Thought"; our understanding has "reached a new height"; and we must "study and comprehend it in depth with deep feelings, firm beliefs, and a strong sense of mission."

These corny words disappeared from the 2025 communiqué. The Politburo Standing Committee members and committee members attending the meeting should no longer be allowed to continue to flatter Xi Jinping. Over the past year, the practice of officials at all levels deliberately flattering and expressing loyalty to Xi Jinping has also gradually disappeared. The Chinese Communist Party’s officialdom has quietly shifted direction.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection no longer pledges loyalty to Xi Jinping

The communiqué of the plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection a year ago listed eight tasks for 2024. The first one is to highlight the "uniting hearts and souls" to expand the results of the theme education, and to study "Xi Jinping Thought", especially the "Important Thought on Self-Revolution" as the main focus of education. The main theme of the training.

The communiqué of the plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection a year later also listed eight tasks for 2025. The first item became "strengthening political supervision in accordance with the major arrangements of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee." Both Xi's core and "Xi's Thought" have been significantly weakened, and the objects of supervision may have also changed.

The second task listed in the communiqué a year ago was: highlighting the "two safeguards" to deepen political supervision; "focusing on political loyalty and political security"; and stating that it was necessary to "closely follow" Xi Jinping's important instructions.

The second task listed in the communiqué one year later was simply: "Consolidate and deepen the results of party discipline learning and education."

Compared with the plans of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection a year ago, the contents of the first and second most important tasks have changed dramatically. Li Xi, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, was promoted by Xi Jinping and should have continued to support Xi. However, changes in the CCDI's communiqués mean that Li Xi can no longer do so, and the Politburo probably no longer recognizes that the CCDI only serves Xi Jinping.

A year ago, the communiqué also stated that the CCDI must always be "absolutely loyal, absolutely reliable, and absolutely pure." A year later, the communiqué only mentioned "loyalty, cleanness, courage, and ability to struggle."

In 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection should no longer accept instructions from Xi Jinping alone and no longer be loyal to Xi Jinping alone. It will probably be difficult for it to serve as a tool for a certain faction to eliminate dissidents.

Image : On 9 January 2025, pedestrians walked past the Zhengyang Gate of the Beijing Imperial Palace Ancient City. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images)

Political chaos in Beijing

On 6 January 2025, Xi Jinping said in a speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission that since the 18th CPC National Congress, "the intensity of the anti-corruption struggle has been unprecedented, and the results are obvious to all"; however, "the existing amount of corruption has not been eliminated, and the increase is still continuing"; it is necessary to fight well the "hard battle, protracted war, and total war."

A year ago, on 8 January 2024, Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Third Plenary Session of the CPC Discipline Inspection Commission, saying that "the anti-corruption struggle has achieved an overwhelming victory and has been comprehensively consolidated"; however, "new situations and new trends in the anti-corruption struggle" require "winning the fight against corruption". The fight against corruption is a tough and protracted battle.

In the past year, the CCP’s “anti-corruption struggle” has not been “won”. Instead, “the stock of corruption has not been eliminated, and the increase is still happening”; “the battle of hard work and the protracted war” has become “the battle of hard work, the protracted war, the overall war". The latest speech by the leader of the Chinese Communist Party is tantamount to an admission of defeat.

The speech also mentioned that "to maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee, we must do what we say." This shows that many officials are inconsistent with Xi Jinping, or "pretend to obey but actually disobey."

A year ago, Xi Jinping's speech talked a lot about political supervision, especially strengthening supervision of the "top leader" and the leadership team; preventing the formation of "small circles", "paying respects to the boss", "building connections" and "cracking down on all kinds of political scammers". . There is no such content in the latest speech. The Politburo should no longer accept the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection playing the role of East Factory and West Factory under the command of the Chinese Communist Party leader in the name of supervision.

On 8 January 2025, the People's Liberation Army Daily published an article titled "Further Strengthening Resolve and Confidence in the Fight against Corruption - On Earnestly Studying and Implementing President Xi's Important Speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection." The article stated that "corruption is not tolerated in the military" and reiterated the need to "implement the system of responsibility of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission."

On 9 January 2025, the People's Liberation Army Daily published another article titled "Persist in governing and managing the Party with a reform spirit and strict standards - Second article on conscientiously studying and implementing President Xi's important speech at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection." The article stated that the military "is related to the party's ruling status" and must always "maintain a high degree of consistency with the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Xi."

The Chinese Communist Party’s military newspaper reiterated the “CMC Chairman’s responsibility system”, but put the “CMC Chairman” after the “CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission”, and also mentioned that the military is related to the “ruling status”; the power struggle between Zhongnanhai and the Bayi Building have been intertwined.

On 8 January 2025, the Chinese Communist Party’s military website also reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar met with visiting Chinese Communist Party Central Military Commission member and Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission’s Joint Staff Department Liu Zhenli; Liu Zhenli also held separate talks with Malaysia’s Defense Minister and Armed Forces Commander. Such overseas visits should have been led by Dong Jun but Liu Zhenli did it instead. I wonder if this will trigger rumours about Dong Jun again.

At the beginning of 2025, Beijing’s political changes exposed new chaos, and even greater chaos is on the way.

First published by Epoch Times