Unusual Developments at CCP’s 2025 Capital Military and Political Symposium Signal Internal Strife
Beijing, January 24, 2025 — The Communist Party of China (CCP) is facing escalating internal tensions, as evidenced by the unusual proceedings at the 2025 Capital Military and Political Symposium held on January 22. The event, traditionally a showcase of unity and loyalty, revealed three striking anomalies that have sparked speculation about the stability of the party’s leadership.
According to reports from the CCP’s Military Daily, the symposium was attended by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee. However, the absence of key high-level military figures and the minimal mention of President Xi Jinping have raised eyebrows among observers.
Current affairs commentator Zhou Xiaohui, writing in the Epoch Times, highlighted three key irregularities:
- Absence of Military high-Ranking Officials: Unlike previous years, no top brass from the CCP’s central Military Commission attended the symposium. In 2024, the event featured Yin Li and Miao Hua, then a member of the Central Military Commission. In 2023, attendees included Yin Li, Miao Hua, and chang Pei Jinjia, Minister of Veterans affairs. This year, only “leaders of the Central Military Commission’s departments and units in Beijing” were present, suggesting a leadership vacuum following Miao Hua’s dismissal.
- Minimal Mention of Xi jinping: Yin Li’s speech included only a single reference to “Chairman Xi,” a stark contrast to previous years where Xi’s name was repeatedly invoked and praised. In 2023 and 2024, Miao Hua emphasized “Xi Core, Two Establishments,” a slogan underscoring Xi’s central role in the party.
- Shift in rhetoric: Military leaders at the symposium mentioned Xi only once,placing him second to “the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.” This subtle shift in language has led analysts to speculate about Xi’s waning influence within the military.
The symposium’s anomalies come amid growing concerns about internal strife within the CCP. The absence of a clear successor to Miao Hua and the downplaying of Xi’s role suggest a party grappling with leadership challenges.
Key Comparisons: CCP Capital Military and Political Symposiums (2023–2025)
| Year | Attendees | Mention of Xi Jinping | Notable Developments |
|——|———–|———————–|———————–|
| 2023 | Yin Li, Miao Hua, Chang Pei Jinjia | Repeated praise of Xi | Emphasis on “Xi Core, Two Establishments” |
| 2024 | Yin Li, Miao Hua | frequent references to Xi | Continued focus on Xi’s leadership |
| 2025 | Yin Li, leaders of Central Military Commission departments | Single mention of Xi | absence of high-ranking military officials |
As the CCP navigates thes turbulent waters, the 2025 symposium serves as a stark reminder of the party’s internal challenges. The absence of key figures and the muted rhetoric surrounding Xi Jinping suggest a potential shift in the balance of power within China’s political landscape.
For more insights into the evolving dynamics of the CCP, explore our analysis of the 2025 political forecast and the implications of Xi Jinping’s leadership.
Power Struggles Intensify Within the Chinese Communist Party as Xi Jinping Faces Growing Challenges
Table of Contents
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is witnessing unprecedented internal strife as power struggles intensify under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has been at the helm for over 12 years. Recent developments suggest a shift in the party’s leadership dynamics, with signs of collective decision-making re-emerging and factions within the party openly vying for influence.
A Return to Collective Leadership?
At the end of last year, the CCP’s Military Daily published a series of commentaries emphasizing the importance of democratic centralism and challenging the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Military Commission. One article explicitly stated that “collective leadership” is one of the highest principles of the CCP’s leadership and “must be resolutely implemented and persisted for a long time.” This shift in rhetoric has been interpreted as a move away from the centralized power model that has characterized Xi’s leadership.
The Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the communist Party of China in July 2023 marked a turning point, with the power of the CCP leader appearing to shrink. The party seems to be reverting to a collective leadership and decision-making model, a significant departure from the strongman politics of recent years.
Internal Strife and Military Power Struggles
Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, internal conflicts among top leaders have escalated. High-profile resignations, including those of Foreign Minister Qin Gang and defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, have highlighted the deepening divisions. additionally, at least a dozen generals and senior military industry officials have been removed from their positions.
The inquiry of Miao Hua, a close confidant of xi Jinping in the military, has been notably telling. Miao’s suspension has been seen as a direct challenge to Xi’s authority,signaling that the power struggle within the military has entered a new phase. As one analysis noted, “it is rare in history for a power struggle to be played out so openly in the military.”
Political Storm on the Horizon
According to convention, the outlines of the next leadership team and key decisions are expected to be revealed as early as this year. However,the fourth Plenary session of the 20th Central Committee,originally scheduled for autumn 2024,has been postponed. This delay, coupled with intensifying economic difficulties, has fueled speculation about a potential political storm in 2025.
Self-reliant commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s Shangbao that various groups within China,including dissidents,businessmen,mid-level officials,police,and military personnel,are waiting for opportunities to take action. Simultaneously occurring, shu Rong, a conventional Chinese medicine doctor and expert in the Book of changes, predicted that Xi Jinping will face public criticism in 2024 but will not step down. By 2025,though,Xi may encounter significant trouble,potentially losing power to a successor from within the system.
Key Developments in CCP Power Struggles
| Event | Details |
|—————————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Third Plenary Session (July 2023) | Shift towards collective leadership and decision-making. |
| Military Daily Commentaries (2023) | Emphasis on democratic centralism and collective leadership. |
| High-Profile Resignations | Qin Gang, Li Shangfu, and Wei Fenghe step down amid internal strife. |
| Miao Hua Investigation | Seen as a challenge to Xi Jinping’s authority in the military. |
| Postponed Fourth Plenary Session | Originally scheduled for autumn 2024, now delayed.|
| Predictions for 2025 | Potential political storm and Xi Jinping’s possible loss of power.|
The Road Ahead
As the CCP navigates these turbulent waters, the disputes within the party are likely to intensify further. The coming months will be critical in determining the future of China’s leadership and the direction of the party. With economic challenges mounting and internal conflicts escalating, the stage is set for a potentially transformative period in Chinese politics.
For more insights into the evolving dynamics within the CCP, explore our in-depth analysis here.
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Power Struggles intensify Within the Chinese Communist Party as Xi Jinping Faces Growing Challenges
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is witnessing unprecedented internal strife as power struggles intensify under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who has been at the helm for over 12 years. Recent developments suggest a shift in the party’s leadership dynamics, with signs of collective decision-making re-emerging and factions within the party openly vying for influence.
A Return to Collective Leadership?
At the end of last year, the CCP’s Military Daily published a series of commentaries emphasizing the importance of democratic centralism and challenging the duty system of the Chairman of the Military Commission. One article explicitly stated that “collective leadership” is one of the highest principles of the CCP’s leadership and “must be resolutely implemented and persisted for a long time.” This shift in rhetoric has been interpreted as a move away from the centralized power model that has characterized Xi’s leadership.
The Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the communist party of china in July 2023 marked a turning point, with the power of the CCP leader appearing to shrink. The party seems to be reverting to a collective leadership and decision-making model, a meaningful departure from the strongman politics of recent years.
Internal Strife and Military Power Struggles
As the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, internal conflicts among top leaders have escalated. High-profile resignations, including those of Foreign Minister Qin Gang and defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, have highlighted the deepening divisions. Additionally, at least a dozen generals and senior military industry officials have been removed from their positions.
The inquiry of Miao Hua, a close confidant of Xi Jinping in the military, has been notably telling. Miao’s suspension has been seen as a direct challenge to Xi’s authority, signaling that the power struggle within the military has entered a new phase. As one analysis noted,”it is rare in history for a power struggle to be played out so openly in the military.”
Political Storm on the Horizon
According to convention, the outlines of the next leadership team and key decisions are expected to be revealed as early as this year. However, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee, originally scheduled for autumn 2024, has been postponed. This delay, coupled with intensifying economic difficulties, has fueled speculation about a potential political storm in 2025.
Self-reliant commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s Shangbao that various groups within China, including dissidents, businessmen, mid-level officials, police, and military personnel, are waiting for opportunities to take action. Simultaneously occurring, Shu Rong, a conventional Chinese medicine doctor and expert in the Book of Changes, predicted that Xi Jinping will face public criticism in 2024 but will not step down. By 2025, though, Xi may encounter significant trouble, potentially losing power to a successor from within the system.
Key Developments in CCP Power Struggles
| Event | details |
|---|---|
| Third plenary Session (July 2023) | Shift towards collective leadership and decision-making. |
| Military Daily Commentaries (2023) | Emphasis on democratic centralism and collective leadership. |
| High-Profile Resignations | Qin gang, Li Shangfu, and Wei Fenghe step down amid internal strife. |
| Miao hua Inquiry | Seen as a challenge to Xi Jinping’s authority in the military. |
| Postponed fourth Plenary Session | Originally scheduled for autumn 2024, now delayed. |
| Predictions for 2025 | Potential political storm and Xi Jinping’s possible loss of power. |
The Road Ahead
As the CCP navigates these turbulent waters, the disputes within the party are likely to intensify further. The coming months will be critical in determining the future of China’s leadership and the direction of the party. With economic challenges mounting and internal conflicts escalating, the stage is set for a potentially transformative period in Chinese politics.
For more insights into the evolving dynamics within the CCP, explore our in-depth analysis here.
Stay informed with the latest developments in Chinese politics and global affairs by subscribing to our newsletter.
