Power Struggle Erupts in China: Xi Jinping Isolated as Internal Coup Brews

Poonam Sharma                                                                                                                                                                                                            Beijing, May 31, —A silent storm is tearing through the halls of power in Beijing. While the world watches China’s economic slowdown with concern, far more dramatic events are unfolding behind closed doors. According to insider leaks and mounting signs of elite discontent, Xi Jinping—the man who once stood as an unchallenged emperor figure—may now be a leader in name only.

China is in chaos. Its military is in turmoil. And at the heart of it lies a ferocious power struggle that could reshape the nation’s future.

The Collapse of the Emperor

The beginning of Xi’s political downfall can be traced back to several critical miscalculations. His high-handed treatment of former Premier Li Keqiang, who mysteriously died under suspicious circumstances following political disagreements, shook the Communist Party of China (CPC) to its core. Some sources suggest Xi may have sanctioned Li’s removal—a fatal mistake that alienated many moderates and reformists within the party.

The public humiliation of former President Hu Jintao at the 2022 Party Congress—escorted out in front of cameras—only deepened the fault lines. Then came the sudden “swimming pool incident”: a reference to reports that a key former official close to the Hu-Wen faction drowned under mysterious circumstances. Sixty days later, amid growing whispers, he was said to have resigned—or been eliminated.

One by one, Xi’s inner circle began to collapse.

Military in Open Revolt

China’s once-unified People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is now reportedly fractured. The prestigious 31st Army, a legacy force from the Nanjing Military Region, has allegedly refused key commands from Zhongnanhai. Both its top commanders have been purged or have vanished. The Navy hasn’t been spared either—an Admiral reportedly executed, though this remains unconfirmed.

Defense Minister Li Shangfu’s disappearance and presumed purge earlier this year sent shockwaves. Now, even his predecessors are under scrutiny. Xi’s long-time military aide, He Weidong, is rumored to have died—either in custody or under mysterious circumstances. It is clear: PLA loyalty is no longer guaranteed.

The Princeling Revolt

Perhaps more alarming is the silent rebellion among the “Princelings”—the elite children of revolutionary leaders who form the core of China’s political aristocracy. Once Xi’s strongest base, even they have turned.

Reports claim that Xi’s former ally, Zhang Youxia, may have been sidelined after Xi allegedly ordered covert action against Zhang’s son. This incident, shrouded in secrecy, is said to have deeply offended many senior figures with family ties to the PLA and CPC founding fathers.

These princelings, now led by more moderate factions, are consolidating around the new Premier—whose identity remains obscured but who is reportedly backed by reformist and technocratic elements in the party.

The Politburo Revolt: Xi Uninvited

In a shocking development, Xi Jinping was reportedly not invited to a high-level Politburo Standing Committee session held this week. The meeting was chaired by the new Premier—possibly with emergency backing from the State Council and retired party elders. Sources indicate a consensus was reached: actual power now resides with the General Secretary of the Communist Party, not with Xi as President.

This directly challenges Xi’s claim to centralized power—a model he imposed through constitutional reforms that removed term limits and glorified the individual leader over collective governance.

Glorification vs. Tradition

Just three days ago, an op-ed in the state-affiliated Global Times sent ripples through the elite: “Single-person glorification is not the Chinese way. Scientific, democratic, and collective leadership is the path forward,” it read. Though unsigned, the editorial is believed to have been penned or approved by key members of the Central Committee—possibly as a formal warning to Xi.

The message was clear: the era of the “Chairman of Everything” is over.

Security Withdrawn, Isolation Deepens

Xi Jinping’s isolation is no longer symbolic. Multiple reports suggest his core aides have vanished or fled, and even the elite VVIP security detail—the Zhongnanhai Inner Guard—has been withdrawn from his residence. One source described his situation as “house arrest without the formalities.”

With the economy reeling, foreign investment evaporating, and unemployment skyrocketing, the party’s survival instinct has kicked in. The experiment of totalitarian centralization has failed. Now, China’s senior leadership is scrambling to prevent collapse.

What Next for China?

At stake is not just Xi Jinping’s political survival, but the very model of Chinese governance. After a decade of crushing dissent, erasing rivals, and concentrating power into one man’s hands, the system is now rejecting him like a virus. The same military and political machine he used to dominate is now turning on him.

The question is no longer if Xi Jinping will fall. It is when—and what kind of leadership will rise in his place.

One thing is clear: a storm is raging inside the Communist Party of China, and it may yet spill into the open. For a country that rarely lets the world peek behind the red curtain, the cracks are becoming too large to hide.