Xi Jinping's New Year Show Failure Amidst Military and Prince Party Power Struggles

Xi Jinping's Altered New Year Appearances

• 💡 This year, Xi Jinping's annual "real-life show" dramatically changed, as he remained within Beijing, visiting urban sites and using a video call for army greetings, unlike previous years' visits to borders or rural homes.
• 📌 The shift from traditional "close to the people" acts like lifting pot lids or kissing children suggests a focus on safety and a lack of confidence, avoiding the usual symbolic gestures.

Public Relations Disaster

• ⚠️ A planned "warm care" segment crashed spectacularly when a street cleaner revealed working "more than 10 hours" daily, and Xi Jinping's response, "You satisfy thousands of families," was widely criticized for ignoring labor protection.
• 💬 This incident turned a supposed comfort show into an embarrassing public relations failure, highlighting a perceived detachment from ordinary people's struggles and labor law violations.

Growing Political Instability

• ⚡ Beijing's political atmosphere is described as "heavy air before a big storm," with rumors of a major "clean out" in the army and widening "cracks" between the military, the Prince Party, and top leaders.
• 🚨 Xi Jinping's decision to stay in Beijing for safety reasons indicates his worry and insecurity, fearing that leaving the capital would make him a target amidst ongoing power struggles.

Military Discontent and Resistance

• ⚔️ The situation around Zhang Youxia and Liu Xianli has stirred significant anger, with "leftover people" reportedly preparing for a "final battle" and old army bosses speaking out against their arrests.
• 🛡️ Retired generals are rumored to be planning a joint letter demanding their release, and there are even talks of active troops considering petitioning, indicating deep unrest within the military.
• 🗣️ A former Central Military Commission vice chairman, Tao Ganguan, openly confronted Xi Jinping, stating that arresting Zhang Youxia and Liu Xianli was "completely wrong" and shook the army's morale.

Prince Party's Challenge to Power

• 👑 The "Prince Party," including Liu Yuan and Deng Pufang, is reportedly planning a major political move for the 2027 21st Party Congress to prevent Xi Jinping from extending his rule.
• 📜 Their proposal aims to "stop Xi Jinping from staying in power" and advocates for a return to past policies like Liu Shaoqi's new democracy and Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening, rejecting the "extreme left turn."