Is Xi Jinping Losing His Grip on Power? Signs of a Possible Shift in China
For more than a decade, Xi Jinping has stood as the unchallenged strongman of China. After scrapping presidential term limits, consolidating his power at the helm of the Communist Party, and launching sweeping anti-corruption purges, he has often been described as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. Yet, recent developments—both visible and whispered through rumor—are fueling speculation that Xi’s authority may not be as absolute as it once appeared.
Among those raising the alarm is author and China analyst Gordon Chang, who argues that Xi is showing signs of weakening control over the military, the party apparatus, and even his public image. While China’s political system is notoriously opaque, several indicators suggest that cracks could be forming in the seemingly solid structure of Xi’s rule.
Cracks in Military Control
The Chinese Communist Party has always relied on its grip over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to safeguard its survival. Xi himself has worked tirelessly to bring the military under his personal command. But Chang highlights troubling shifts: General Zhang Youxia, once seen as loyal to Xi, appears to be amassing greater influence at the expense of the president.
This is compounded by a wave of purges. High-ranking figures such as Generals Li Shangfu, Wei Fenghe, and others have been abruptly dismissed, despite their close ties to Xi. What was once touted as proof of his anti-corruption zeal is increasingly interpreted as evidence of internal dissent. If loyalists can be discarded so swiftly, it suggests not consolidation but resistance within the military’s ranks.
Purges of Allies: Consolidation or Retaliation?
Since his rise to power, Xi has relied heavily on sweeping purges to remove rivals and instill loyalty. Yet the latest expulsions are striking precisely because they target individuals who were once considered pillars of his inner circle.
Critics argue that these moves could signal that the ground beneath Xi is shifting—that factions within the Communist Party may be pushing back, perhaps using corruption allegations as political weapons against him. Rather than eliminating rivals, Xi may now be sacrificing allies to maintain balance, a dangerous reversal of his previous dominance.
A Vanishing Public Profile
Another intriguing sign lies in Xi’s reduced visibility. Chinese state media, once saturated with his speeches and appearances, has begun to rely more on archival footage. Weeks pass without significant public engagements, fueling speculation about his health, confidence, or political standing.
Chang interprets this as an erosion of authority. For a leader who built his image on omnipresence—appearing in every village, factory, and international forum—an unexplained withdrawal sends a powerful message. In a regime where perception is power, invisibility can be a liability.
Factional Realignments in the CCP
For years, Xi worked to dismantle the influence of other political factions, including the Communist Youth League aligned with former President Hu Jintao. Yet whispers from Beijing suggest a quiet revival of such groups, along with the reemergence of retired party elders as behind-the-scenes power brokers.
If true, this represents a subtle but important shift: the rebalancing of power away from one-man rule and back toward a collective leadership model. In China’s system, even a modest resurgence of factional politics could chip away at Xi’s once-unassailable position.
The Counterargument: Xi Still Holds the Reins
It is important to note that not all analysts share Chang’s view. Many argue that the purges remain consistent with Xi’s longstanding anti-corruption campaign and reflect his determination to keep the military and party loyal to him. In this reading, his reduced public profile could be strategic caution, not weakness.
Moreover, Xi retains formal control of the three pillars of Chinese power: the presidency, the General Secretaryship of the Communist Party, and the chairmanship of the Central Military Commission. By abolishing term limits and refusing to designate a successor, he has created a system where his departure seems unthinkable.
Why Rumors Matter
China’s political opacity fuels speculation. In the absence of transparency, every unexplained absence, purge, or shift in rhetoric invites interpretation. Rumors of Xi’s declining health or removal from office have circulated before, often without substance. Still, the persistence of such chatter reflects unease both within China and among foreign observers.
Whether Xi is losing power or simply reshaping it, the whispers themselves erode the myth of invulnerability that has surrounded him since his rise.
The question of Xi Jinping’s strength is not just about one man—it touches the stability of the entire Chinese system. If Xi is truly weakening, China could face internal struggles not seen since the leadership transitions of the late 20th century. If he is consolidating further, it suggests an even deeper authoritarian entrenchment.
Either way, the stakes are immense. China’s future course—economic policy, foreign relations, military posture—depends heavily on the stability of its leadership. For the world watching from the outside, the signals are murky, but the message is clear: something is shifting in Beijing.
⭐ Gordon Chang and others argue that Xi’s reduced control over the military, the targeting of close allies, his diminishing public appearances, and the stirrings of rival factions suggest a leader losing his grip. Yet counterarguments insist he remains firmly in charge. The truth may lie in the middle—Xi is still at the helm, but the waters around him are no longer calm.
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