PRC flag upside down, anchors reversed, signals of "overthrowing Xi"

 Direct Translation

Major incident at CCTV? National flag upside down, anchors reversed, signals of "overthrowing Xi" spread like wildfire online!

Reporter, editing : Wang He / https://www.aboluowang.com/2026/0520/2385812.html / Images : Video Screenshots

On 16 May 2026, a video footage of CCTV's news channel displaying completely upside down went viral online, igniting public outrage. In the footage, the presenter's face was upside down, the rocket launch footage was head-down, and commercials and special programs were all flipped. Even more shockingly, the Chinese Communist national flag was also prominently displayed upside down.

Reportedly, other channels were functioning normally, but CCTV's news channel alone experienced this unprecedented technical anomaly. Netizens were instantly outraged, with the phrase "This is confirmed—the truth has been distorted" quickly flooding the comments section.

Is this really just a simple technical glitch?

On the surface, it might just be a temporary malfunction in the broadcast control system but a closer look reveals a chilling truth: As the CCP's core official mouthpiece, CCTV has long represented the national propaganda system, and its technical capabilities are arguably world-class. How likely is it that such a basic error—the Chinese national flag and the entire news footage—could occur?

Even more intriguing details follow:

The Chinese national flag was displayed upside down—the five-starred red flag facing downwards is a highly sensitive image in any serious setting, often seen as a symbol of the "flipping" and "falling" of the nation, regime, and even supreme power;

Rocket launch footage showed the rocket flying upside down—a national project originally symbolizing "takeoff" and "ascension" visually appeared as "falling";

News anchors broadcasting upside down—images that have long been used to project "positive energy" were completely flipped;

Most importantly: only the news channel experienced the problem, while other channels remained unaffected. This precise "selective malfunction" seems more like a deliberate, specially released signal.

Some netizens directly concluded: this is not a malfunction, but rather someone within CCTV is releasing a signal in the most dangerous and direct way—Xi is about to fall.

Even the national flag was upside down; the implication is self-evident.

The deeper metaphors behind "upside-down" and "falling flags"

In the Chinese political context, the word "fall" has always been extremely sensitive.

Fall, defection, countdown, change of power… every word is inextricably linked to power transitions and political upheavals.

Therefore, some question whether CCTV's decision to have its news channel and the national flag "collectively upside down" at this time is a coincidence or a deliberate expression.

Some interpretations have quickly gained traction:

The power struggle at the highest levels has reached a fever pitch, with the "anti-Xi faction" taking preemptive action within the propaganda system;

Xi's core position is showing signs of weakening, and official media are using the "upside-down flag" as a way to express their stance or even issue a warning;

Some even link it to the so-called "celestial and personnel resonance," believing that the upside-down flag in CCTV news footage foreshadows an impending reversal of the power structure.

Furthermore, some believe this might be a prelude to even bigger moves:

If the image can be flipped over, will the actual power structure and the trajectory of the nation also be completely overturned?

Online reactions: From jokes to gross concerns

As the incident continued to escalate, various interpretations quickly emerged on overseas platforms and Chinese forums:

"The national flag is upside down, and they still say it's just a technical glitch? Who believes that!"

"Other channels are working normally, but the news channel is broadcasting the national flag and news upside down. This blatant bias is too obvious."

"Even the five-star red flag is being broadcast upside down; CCTV is risking its life to send a signal."

"They've gone this far in distorting the truth; can Xi Jinping still maintain his composure?"

Of course, some believe it could simply be a problem with the user's device or a flipping error during post-production video processing.

However, the problem lies in the fact that, in the current extremely sensitive political atmosphere, the visual impact of the "upside-down national flag" is so strong that any technical explanation seems somewhat weak.

Is this just a simple bug, or a shocking hint?

As of now, CCTV has not officially responded to or clarified this "upside-down incident"—including the upside-down national flag issue. This silence itself is seen by many as even more intriguing.

Historically, CCTV has experienced technical malfunctions, but broadcasting the national flag, presenters, and even a rocket upside down is extremely rare.

Was it a simple technical accident? Or was someone using a "malfunction" as a pretext to send a signal?

Was it a system error, or was someone deliberately showing the national flag upside down to the entire nation?

History often takes a turn in the details.

When CCTV News even broadcasts the Chinese Communist national flag upside down, does it mean something is truly changing?

What do you think? Is this an equipment malfunction, or a hidden prelude to a major upheaval in the CCP's political landscape?