Xi's disappearance, a sign of loss of control and power?

 Direct translation

Shocking U.S. intelligence reveals Xi's disappearance, a sign of loss of control and power?

Reporter : Wang Duruo / Editor: Zhongkang / https://www.aboluowang.com/2025/1008/2288314.html

Rumours of Xi Jinping's unstable power continue to swirl. On the 7th, Fox News invited Cornell University Law School PhD candidate Gordon Chang to analyze the situation on its "Mornings with Maria" program. Chang stated that Xi Jinping has not made a high-profile appearance since September 2025. This, combined with US intelligence sources, suggests that the Fourth Plenum of the Communist Party of China (CPC) could be a turning point, with Xi Jinping potentially losing his positions as General Secretary or Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Chang argued on the program that Xi Jinping's "disappearance" reflects an internal party struggle. He cited U.S. Ambassador to Beijing David Perdue's statement on September 23rd that a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping might be postponed until 2026, suggesting that Xi Jinping might be under "house arrest" or afraid to travel abroad due to a loss of power.

CNBC reported that Perdue mentioned that Sino-US relations are "very good," but that further preparation is needed for the meeting to be postponed. Chang warned that if Xi Jinping loses control at the Fourth Plenum, it could trigger geopolitical instability. The segment has been viewed over hundreds of thousands of times on platforms like X and YouTube.

Pound revealed that Trump and Xi Jinping spoke three times in 2025 to discuss Taiwan and trade but did not propose any restrictions. The Taipei Times reported on October 4th that Pound reiterated the US's stance on Taiwan and said it would not oppose Taiwanese independence, fueling speculation about a domestic crisis facing Xi Jinping.

Taiwanese scholar Song Guocheng, speaking on the "Yaita Akio Newtalk" program on September 25th, cited three pieces of evidence for Xi Jinping's unstable power: official media reports of a reduction in power, military purges, such as the disappearance of He Weidong in March 2025, and a deteriorating economy (with a youth unemployment rate exceeding 30%). He predicted that the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China might present challenges to "collective leadership," and that Xi Jinping might step down in a "soft landing." The program garnered 100,000 views, with Song describing the situation in China as "declining."

Xi Jinping's cancellation of a hotel reservation in Seoul, South Korea, has fueled speculation about his loss of power. Aboluowang commentator Wang Duran noted that South Korea's largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, reported on the 30th of last month that the Lee Jae-myung government had announced a three-day, two-night meeting with Xi Jinping at the APEC venue in Gyeongju. Some think tanks, such as SinoInsider, believe this may be a "strategic retreat" by Xi Jinping rather than a true loss of power.

The results of the Fourth Plenum will undoubtedly be a crucial juncture in observing the stability of Xi Jinping's power.