Xi Jinping's Tibet Trip: Beidaihe Consensus and Military Power Play

Xi Jinping's Reappearance and Political Maneuvers

• 💡 After a 20-day public absence, rumors about Xi Jinping's health and political survival circulated widely.
• 🎯 Xi reappeared in Tibet, with state media promoting his visit as a "grand comeback" and using titles like "Supreme Leader" and "the core" to project unshakable power.
• 📌 His visit aimed to project unity and reaffirm his status, despite potential health risks due to the high altitude of Lhasa.

The Beidaihe Consensus

• 🔑 A "four-point consensus" was reportedly reached at the Beidaihe meeting, a temporary agreement among factions.
• ✅ Key points included Xi remaining as top leader but with limited personal worship, not serving another term, separation of party/government/military powers, and preparations for future party congresses.
• ⚖️ This consensus suggests a stalemate, keeping Xi in place until 2027 while rivals prepare for his eventual exit.

Unusual Tibet Trip Details

• ⚠️ Xi's visit to Tibet for the 60th anniversary was unnecessary (he skipped the 50th) and involved an unusually large entourage, including rivals like Hu Chunhua.
• ⚡️ Xi was not listed as the head of the delegation, and he cut his visit short to less than 24 hours, leaving his entourage behind.
• 🚫 The absence of Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and other key military figures, replaced by a disciplinary officer, signaled that Xi no longer commands the real muscle of the PLA.
• 🩺 Footage showed Xi walking slowly and wobbling, raising concerns about his cardiovascular condition and overall health.

Beijing's Military Preparations

• 🚨 Beijing experienced unusual semi-lockdown and military parade preparations for September 3rd, involving 40,000 personnel and disrupting daily life.
• 🚧 Tanks and armored vehicles were seen rumbling into the city, with one viral video showing buses blocking tanks, suggesting deep internal divisions.
• 🛡️ Live ammunition and military camps appeared in downtown Beijing parks, a significant departure from past parades, fueling speculation of a "soft coup."

General Zhang Youxia's Influence

• ⚔️ The 82nd Group Army (formerly the elite 38th Army), known for its role in past CCP power struggles, was deployed throughout Beijing.
• 📰 The PLA Daily published a remarkable article praising the 82nd Army, emphasizing collective leadership and truth-telling while notably omitting any mention of Xi Jinping.
• 📈 These actions suggest that the Central Theater Command is in Zhang Youxia's hands, and he is preparing a counterattack, challenging Xi's authority over the military.