The Return of Liu Yuan: The Red Princeling Xi Fears Most

Internal Power Struggles in the CCP

• 💡 Factions within the CCP, including Xi Jinping's, princelings, and Jiang Zemin's camp, are making last-ditch efforts to shape China's future leadership.
• 🎯 Mainstream media reports on Xi Jinping's low profile are seen as a PR push, contrasting with more reliable social media insights.
• 🧠 The PLA's study of Mao Zedong's selected works is interpreted as a strategic maneuver to elevate Mao's legacy to counter Xi Jinping's influence.

The Emergence of Liu Yuan

• 🔑 General Liu Yuan, son of former President Liu Shaoqi, is identified as the mastermind behind the strategy to use Mao's legacy to suppress Xi.
• 📌 Liu Yuan is being considered by party elders and Jiang Yuxia as a potential successor, especially after Wang Yang and Hu Chunhua reportedly declined top leadership roles.
• 🚀 He is expected to temporarily assume the role of Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), overseeing political affairs and replacing Dong.

Liu Yuan's Background and Rivalry with Xi

• 📜 Liu Yuan possesses deep revolutionary roots and a pedigree arguably more senior than Xi Jinping's, with his father outranking Xi's.
• ⚔️ He has a long-standing rivalry with Xi Jinping, who reportedly forced him into retirement in 2015 due to personal distrust and jealousy over Liu's competence.
• ✅ Liu Yuan is known for his anti-corruption efforts within the military, having blown the whistle on high-ranking officials like Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.

Strategic Vision and Potential Reforms

• 💡 Liu Yuan's strategy involves emulating Deng Xiaoping's "signal left, turn right" approach, using Mao's untouchable status to dismantle Xi's military power base without direct confrontation.
• 🌱 He has previously advocated for nationalizing the Chinese military, transforming it from a party-controlled force into a true national defense force.
• 📈 His unique experience in both civilian governance and military affairs positions him as a potential bridge between reformist camps and the military establishment.

Implications for China's Future

• 🔮 Liu Yuan's return could lead to him eventually taking over both the Party Secretary General and CMC Chairman roles, potentially replacing Xi Jinping.
• ⚠️ The speaker suggests that the ultimate success of any Chinese leader depends on their determination to dismantle the CCP, as the party's continued existence poses fundamental challenges.
• 🇹🇼 The threat to Taiwan is seen as inherent to the CCP's existence, regardless of who leads, due to the PRC's perceived illegitimacy compared to the ROC.