Xi Jinping's domestic influence shrinks as party leadership reshuffles in China

Recent observations indicate that Chinese President Xi Jinping has largely withdrawn from key domestic political meetings. At the nationwide party‑building work symposium held on June 15‑16, 2026, Xi was absent while top officials such as Cai Qi, the first secretary of the Central Secretariat, and Stone Tai‑Feng, head of the United Front Work Department, led the session.

Analysts note that this shift follows a series of high‑profile personnel changes, including the removal of Hubei Party Secretary Wang Zhonglin and the dismissal of former Party School head Chen Xi. The emergence of a new “Central Decision‑Making Coordination Institution” appears to replace the traditional Politburo Standing Committee, further reducing Xi’s direct control over appointments and disciplinary matters.

The meeting also featured unprecedented attendance by both the Communist Party’s top anti‑corruption officials, Li Xi and Liu Jinguo, suggesting a forthcoming wave of internal purges aimed at curbing the influence of Xi’s allies. Parallel commentary highlights Cai Qi’s unusually broad portfolio—spanning party affairs, propaganda, social work, and even the party school—positioning him as a key power broker rather than a successor to Xi.

These developments signal a consolidation of power among senior cadres linked to former leader Hu Jintao and a possible rebalancing of authority within the Chinese Communist Party ahead of the upcoming Fifth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee.