Chinese State Media Coverage of CCP’s Fourth Plenum Muted Amid Military Purge
Udumbara
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The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee opened in Beijing on Oct. 20 without the typical state media fanfare befitting such an event.
The muted media tone during the plenum was accompanied by state propaganda aimed at reinforcing confidence in Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s rule.
A few days prior, on Oct. 17, the CCP expelled nine top military officials in a rare move. Initially scheduled for 2024, the Fourth Plenum was postponed for a year without an official explanation, fueling speculation of internal discord amid China’s economic downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muted Media Coverage
The four-day meeting, running from Oct. 20 to 23, would typically be trumpeted across state media outlets with front-page headlines and images of top CCP officials.Instead, state propaganda outlets—including Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, and China Central Television (CCTV)—offered only minimal, routine reporting on the opening day of the plenum.
Their identical reports repeated Party slogans such as “under the leadership of the CCP Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core,” and emphasized the goal of “high-quality development” and “technological self-reliance.”
By the eve of Oct. 20, the official narrative across various state media outlets merely noted that Xi delivered a work report and introduced a draft plan for economic and social development over the next five years.
There were no photographs, video footage, or quotes, which was a stark contrast to the CCP’s usual propaganda style of elaborate visuals and orchestrated enthusiasm.
CCP Propaganda Messaging
Chinese state media on Oct. 20 released a lengthy editorial penned by Xinhua titled “Ensuring Decisive Progress Toward Socialist Modernization—On the Occasion of the Fourth Plenum.”China observer Yue Shan told The Epoch Times that while the editorial appears to glorify Xi’s authority, it might also reflect subtle internal dissent through what some China watchers describe as “high-level sarcasm.”
“The article credits all successes to the core leadership, while blaming problems such as economic slowdown and mounting debt on poor implementation by local governments or unfavorable international conditions,” Yue said.
“This practice of attributing all achievements upward and shifting all responsibility downward appears to elevate the top leadership on the surface, but, in reality, it serves to create distance. And in doing so, it inadvertently exposes the fragility of the [CCP’s] power structure.”
A Chinese finance podcaster who calls himself “Wei Hu Shuo Fang” echoed Yue’s views on his channel, but interpreted the editorial as an effort to defend Xi’s authority.
According to the podcaster, the CCP’s propaganda frequently portrays the country’s economic development and social stability as “two miracles” achieved under Xi’s “core leadership,” while avoiding any acknowledgment of the current economic slowdown. He noted that such narratives emphasize that without Xi’s personal guidance, these accomplishments would not have been possible.
The podcaster added that this messaging underscores the Party’s central role in directing China’s economy and society, suggesting that only by maintaining centralized control can the country avoid “derailment.” The podcaster predicted that the plenum would produce little substantive news until its final day, when a vague communiqué would be released, painting an optimistic blueprint for the future while offering no real change for ordinary citizens.
Rumors of Xi’s Departure as Military Chief
On social media outside of China’s highly censored platforms, people have been discussing the possibility that Xi might step down as chairman of the Central Military Commission, handing power to Gen. Zhang Youxia.Chinese political commentator Yuan Cheng told The Epoch Times that Xinhua’s editorial mainly focused on Xi, repeatedly describing him as the “core” of the CCP.
Yuan contrasted this lavish praise with the country’s deteriorating economy, asserting that the article appears to be part of a move by Xi and his allies to manage a political crisis and make it seem as if CCP members are loyal to Xi.
Following the conclusion of the Fourth Plenum, some China observers say that attention will remain focused on how the CCP will balance the appearance of unity amid mounting economic and political challenges.
