On August 5, 2014, Radio Free Asia published an article titled, “Some Kind of Coup May Have Taken Place in China.” The article analyzed [what it identified as] the current abnormal situation in China, including the following. First, on-going unprecedented large scale military exercises are taking place from July to September (a portion of the exercises will continue until November). Second, a secret meeting was held at the end of July between the former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and China’s current top leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in an effort to improve Sino-Japanese relations. Third, on July 29, a public announcement was made of the investigation of the former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang. Fourth, on July 30, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission of the Chinese Communist Party sent a large investigation team to Shanghai; the team will be stationed in Shanghai until September (the same period of time that the large scale military exercises are taking place). Fifth, Shanghai Bright Food Group Chairman Wang Zong-nan, who has a close relationship with China’s former top leader Jiang Zemin, was taken away for investigation several days ago. Sixth, a large number of civilian flights were canceled in July, especially flights between Beijing and Shanghai. Seventh, in July security checks were enhanced in subways and other transportation areas in Beijing (trash cans have to be emptied every 15 minutes). Eighth, People’s Daily published a commentary article titled, "The Takedown of the Big Tiger Zhou Yongkang Does Not Mean the Anti-Corruption Campaign Has Stopped," which was then removed from its website. Finally, China’s former top leader Jiang Zemin’s inscriptions and signatures are being removed from public places, with online photos being published as evidence of the removal.
All of the above incidents indicate that some kind of coup is taking place between Beijing and Shanghai. The article concluded that the anti-Xi forces may have started the coup but failed when Xi’s forces fought back or that the Xi Jinping group launched a coup to eliminate the Jiang Zemin’s faction.
Source: Radio Free Asia, August 5, 2014
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/pinglun/chenpokong/js-08052014120319.html