Radio Free Asia published a Chinese article on August 5 entitled: “Some Kind of Coup May Have Occurred in China.”
It suggests a power struggle is taking place between top Communist Party officials in Beijing and Shanghai, pointing to several unusual incidences in the last few weeks, as translated by ChinaScope:
- Unprecedented large-scale military exercises from July to September with some continuing into November.
- A confidential meeting in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to improve relations between the two countries.
- The corruption investigation of ex-security tsar Zhou Yongkang announced on July 29.
- A large investigation team sent to Shanghai on July 30 by the Communist Party’s Central Discipline Inspection Commission.
- An investigation of Wang Zong-nan, chairman of Shanghai Bright Food Group, who has close links with former Party leader Jiang Zemin.
- Many domestic flights canceled in July, particularly between Beijing and Shanghai.
- Increased security restrictions on public transport in Beijing, for example trash cans must be emptied four times per hour.
- An online article by state mouthpiece People’s Daily called: “The Removal of Big Tiger Zhou Yongkang Does Not Signal the End of the Anti-Corruption Campaign,” that was later censored.
- The removal of ex-leader Jiang Zemin’s name from public places, which has been publicized online with photos.
According to the article, cadres in the Jiang faction may have attempted a coup that failed, triggering a counter-coup by Xi’s faction to wipe out the opposition.