Why Xi Jinping May Win a Fourth Term by Default

Jul 31, 2026 - 09:42

Who could replace Xi Jinping—and does anyone actually want the job? In this program, we examine four possible scenarios for China’s next leadership transition, including Hu Chunhua, Ding Xuexiang, Li Qiang, and the possibility that Xi remains in power for a fourth term. We also look at the unusual language surrounding the upcoming Fifth Plenum, growing signs of factional infighting, and Xi’s unexplained absence from the 50th anniversary of the Tangshan earthquake. Together, these developments may offer important clues about the hidden succession battle unfolding inside the Chinese Communist Party.