During the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress, Xinhua News Agency published an article titled “Reformer Xi Jinping.” The article was over ten thousand words in length. After publication, the article was quickly taken down, even before the end of the plenary session (see Chinascope’s briefing on the matter here). There are some unofficial reports suggesting that the article was seen as subtly critical of Xi Jinping and that Li Shulei, the Minister of the CCP Central Propaganda Department, had ordered its removal. Insiders said that the article referenced Deng Xiaoping throughout, portraying Xi as following in Deng’s path to further deepen Deng’s reforms. Critics said that the article’s author was subtly promoting Deng as the “sole legitimate” figure who drove China’s “reform and opening up,” with Xi being merely a follower. Xi, however, views himself as a great leader, with stature similar to that of Mao Zedong and higher than that of any other CCP leader.
Articles praising Xi or promoting “Xi Jinping thought” still dominate the top spots on CCP-controlled state media platforms.
Source: Epoch Times, July 26, 2024
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/7/26/n14299045.htm