Xi Jinping's Public Absence Fuels Speculation Amid Power Shake-Up In China
Chinese President Xi Jinping's unusual disappearance from public view between May 21 and June 5 this year has sparked intense speculation about internal political adjustments at the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), CNN-News18 has learnt.
According to multiple media reports, Xi's sudden absence from official engagements, state media coverage, and high-profile diplomatic meetings coincided with a wave of top-level purges in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and mounting economic challenges in core sectors of China's economy. Observers suggest that behind closed doors, Beijing is undergoing a quiet yet significant recalibration of power.
Notably, Xi was absent from the front pages of People's Daily and Xinhua—the CCP's primary propaganda outlets—from June 2 to 5, a rare break from his consistent daily coverage since 2017. During this period, high-stakes diplomatic meetings with foreign delegations were instead handled by Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, suggesting a temporary shift in the presentation of state leadership.
In his absence, public appearances by second-tier party officials and respected party elders have added to speculation that the internal command structure of the CCP is being reworked, possibly to stabilise growing dissent or manage factional tensions.
The People's Liberation Army has also seen sweeping changes. Since early 2023, key figures such as General He Weidong (Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission), General Miao Hua (Chief of Political Work), and General Lin Xiangyang (Commander of the Eastern Theater Command) have been removed. The PLA's powerful Rocket Force and Western Theater Command have also undergone major leadership reshuffles, hinting at systemic unease within China's military hierarchy.
On June 6, a constitutional loyalty ceremony organised by China's State Council—attended by over 50 ministers and top department heads—was conspicuously held without Xi's presence. Meanwhile, at international forums, delegates were seen reciting 'Xi Jinping Thought" in the President's absence—a symbolic move that drew attention to his physical nonappearance even as his ideological presence was reinforced.
Analysts are divided over the implications: some view this as a calculated pause by Xi to recalibrate political structures amid crisis, while others suggest potential internal challenges to his authority, following a year of economic setbacks and increased scrutiny of his centralisation of power.
While the Chinese government has offered no explanation for Xi's reduced public visibility, the convergence of diplomatic stand-ins, military purges, and symbolic omissions has led many to believe that China's political landscape may be entering a sensitive transitional phase.
About the Author
Manoj Gupta
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Beijing, China
First Published:
June 30, 2025, 09:07 IST
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