Editorial: Troubles of China’s top executives

There are more and more signs that the rule of Chinese President Xi Jinping () is facing severe challenges from within the Communist Party of China (CCP), which may plunge China into a period of political instability, which may affect regional security, including Taiwan. Make an impact.

The first sign of trouble appeared on January 22, when Xi Jinping delivered a speech at a meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the highest internal investigation unit of the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping referred to corruption in China’s political and legal system, and ordered the committee to rigorously investigate two-faced people who openly say they are dishonest to the party.

Xi Jinping also talked about the intersection of political and economic issues that threaten the political security of the party and the country. Xi Jinping’s speech has attracted the attention of Chinese observers. Chinese leaders rarely directly mention political tensions within the party.

The next day, Xinhua News Agency published a follow-up article to Xi Jinping’s speech, the content is more straightforward: Some corrupt elements formed interest groups in an attempt to usurp the party and state authority and carry out unorganized activities that undermine the party. It says focus and unity. The Xinhua News Agency article also stated that a number of senior party officials were arrested for political disciplinary crimes.

The element of corruption is likely to refer to the political faction of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, also known as the Shanghai Group. As we all know, Jiang Zemin was insatiable during his tenure in power. After leaving office, he firmly controlled the party and the government, placing allies in a key position to ensure his interests.

After coming to power in 2012, due to lack of his own power base, Xi Jinping began to weaken Jiang’s influence by launching an anti-corruption campaign to catch tigers and release powerful leaders and low-level bureaucrats who benefited Jiang. The movement has also expanded to China’s commercial and financial sectors. This witnessed the coming out of China’s most high-profile entrepreneur and founder of Alibaba Group Jack Ma, who made his fortune in the Jiang era and maintained close contact with the former president’s family.

After Xi Jinping covered up the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2019, criticism of his leadership reached a climax. The princelings and academic circles in the party wrote slanderous articles. Even the stubborn party loyal supporter Cai Xia, who was a famous professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, also criticized Xi Jinping for turning the party into a political zombie.

Next week and Thursday will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. This is an extremely sensitive period for the Chinese Communist Party. Before the centennial celebration, even members of Maoist organizations were arrested as part of the stability maintenance operation, which shows that Xi Jinping is very nervous.

The Internet is full of rumors that Dong Jingwei, the head of China’s counterintelligence activities and vice minister of national security, defected to the United States with his daughter in February.

Xi Jinping set aside many party norms and challenged the powerful Jiang faction head-on, bringing the CCP into a period of unprecedented turbulence since the Cultural Revolution. This has caused trouble for Taiwan.

Xi Jinping has planted so many powerful enemies and burned so many bridges to support power. He now has no choice but to hold on to the end; he cannot step down without putting himself and his family in serious danger. If the coup seems to be taking place, Xi Jinping may resort to military adventurism, perhaps against Taiwan, as the last roll of the dice. The successful annexation of Taiwan will definitely make Xi Jinping unshakable within the party.