By Li Jingyao, Vision Times
Once considered the “discarded crown prince” of Chinese politics, Hu Chunhua has reemerged with a series of strikingly high-profile appearances. After signaling a renewed political status in Tibet, Hu attended the opening ceremony of the 15th China Northeast Asia Expo, where he delivered a speech.
But analysts are noting that his participation stood out in four significant ways — particularly the fact that Jilin’s top leaders personally accompanied him through the exhibition hall, signaling a political shift.
According to Chinese state media “Xinhua News Agency,” the Northeast Asia Expo opened on Aug. 27 in Changchun, Jilin, with Hu Chunhua, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attending and giving remarks.
Hu Chunhua’s ‘unexpected’ role
Hu’s speech was short and perfunctory. He briefly noted that “President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the China–Northeast Asia Expo,” before shifting into standard party talking points.
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Commentator Tang Jingyuan observed that although the report read like ordinary official coverage, the implications were far from routine. Hu, one of the most politically sensitive figures in the country, “unexpectedly” appeared at a major event and, more importantly, received treatment that broke precedent. Tang outlined four unusual aspects of his attendance.
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Since 2014, the expo has been held every two years. Past representatives included then-Vice Premier Wang Yang and later Vice Premier Hu Chunhua. But as Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative expanded abroad, the expo’s stature — and the rank of attendees — grew. In 2021, Yang Jiechi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, attended; in 2023, it was Hao Mingjin, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
This shift from economic leadership to figures with broader diplomatic significance highlights the expo’s evolving role. Tang noted that previous participants were all vice–state level officials. Hu’s sudden reappearance, despite being politically sidelined and even thought of as “finished,” marked the first unusual sign.
Sidestepping Xi and the Belt and Road
The second unusual element is that past attendees all held real positions of authority. Hu, however, now only holds a ceremonial role, albeit as the CPPCC’s second-ranking vice chairman. His participation was unprecedented, and it followed his inspection of the Yajiang Hydropower Station in Tibet.
Third, prior speeches at the expo invariably emphasized Xi Jinping’s directives and the Belt and Road Initiative. By contrast, Hu’s remarks barely mentioned Xi and completely ignored Belt and Road. His only nod — “President Xi attaches great importance to this expo” — was formulaic. Commentator Tang Jingyuan suggested this was a deliberate cold-shoulder, signaling distance rather than loyalty.
Tang also revealed an exclusive tip from alleged high-level insiders: “The information suggests that Xi Jinping has already been stripped of power, and Hu Chunhua along with Wang Yang will dominate the political landscape in the post-Xi era. While I cannot confirm the accuracy of this claim 100 percent, at least two independent sources have conveyed this information.”
Given the CCP’s opaque system, outside observers rarely obtain hard evidence like appointment papers. Analysts instead rely on official news signals and closely monitor the movements of Xi Jinping, Zhang Youxia, and Hu Chunhua.
Shifting gears since the Third Plenary Session
Since reports surfaced last year during the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee that Xi had suffered a stroke, signs of diminished authority have continued. From that point, Hu Chunhua has stepped into the spotlight.
At the close of that session, Hu sat alongside Xi in a breakout meeting, drawing attention. Later, on December 12, Hu represented China in Madrid at the opening of the “2024 Congdu International Forum,” where he read Xi’s letter and gave a speech.
Between April 8–17, Hu led a delegation to Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. Commentators noted that his focus on concrete economic cooperation in strategic regions suggested backing from senior political figures and a possible revival of the Communist Youth League faction.
Media hints of ‘Chunhua’s harvest’
Recently, Hu also visited Nyingchi in Tibet as part of a CPPCC delegation led by Wang Huning. Nyingchi hosts Xi’s prized Yarlung Tsangpo River hydropower project, the massive Sejila Mountain Tunnel, and the Sichuan–Tibet Railway. Hu retraced Xi’s inspection route almost exactly — meeting villagers, touring the hydropower site, and inspecting rail construction. His presence overshadowed Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, who formally oversees the hydropower project.
State mouthpiece “People’s Daily” even published an editorial that same day titled “Creating a Better Life, Fulfilling the Great Dream Together.” It opened with a phrase referencing “Chunhua’s harvest,” an unmistakable play on Hu’s name. The “PLA Daily” even placed the piece on its front page.
Such signals suggest Hu may have been repositioned during the Beidaihe leadership retreat, potentially restoring him to the succession line. The upcoming Fourth Plenary Session in October could reveal more, so stay tuned for new developments.
