Photos and videos of former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao recently circulated widely online, showing him appearing in public in Beijing. Wen was visiting the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Despite his white hair, he appeared energetic and walked briskly. Accompanied by several staff members, he made his way to his vehicle, repeatedly waving to onlookers, who greeted him with calls of “Hello, Premier.” He responded with frequent gestures of acknowledgment.
During the outing, the license plates of four accompanying vehicles were captured. The first vehicle was a black Audi A6L with a blue plate reading “京A50698.” The second was an Audi A6 with a white plate reading “VA02388.” The third vehicle, a Hongqi sedan, bore the blue plate “京C88018,” while the fourth carried the plate “VA02486.”
License plates beginning with “京A” are typically assigned to the Beijing municipal government or certain central government agencies. The “VA” plates on the second and fourth vehicles are associated with units directly under the Central Military Commission (CMC), with the letter “A” indicating the Joint Staff Department. Wen was reportedly traveling in the second vehicle, which is linked to the CMC’s Joint Staff Department.
In recent years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been wary of political influence from retired senior officials. Wen’s public appearance has drawn significant attention overseas, with some interpreting it as a potential signal of complex dynamics within China’s top leadership.
Source: NTDTV, March 31, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/03/31/a104081670.html