President Xi Jinping’s unexplained disappearance from public view for several days, between May 21 and June 5, 2025, has reignited speculation over deepening internal fractures within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

During this period, there were no public appearances, statements, or photographs of China’s top leader.

In Xi’s absence, Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng stepped into the spotlight, representing the state at official events and meeting foreign dignitaries. While this might appear to be a routine delegation of responsibilities, multiple observers suggest it was more likely a period of internal rift.

This is not the first time a prominent Chinese leader has gone missing without explanation. Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang and ex-Defence Minister Li Shangfu were similarly removed from the public eye before being stripped of their positions; both cases were preceded by weeks of silence and no formal clarification.

Now, a fresh wave of removals has again stirred fears of a brewing power struggle. On July 4, the Chinese government dismissed three top military officials: General Miao Hua, Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, and Liu Shipeng, a senior nuclear engineer. While the official explanation was corruption, analysts and insiders aren’t convinced.

According to a report by CNN-News18, sources within top intelligence circles claim the dismissals may have been a pre-emptive move by Xi to suppress potential dissent.

An event on June 6 further raised eyebrows. At a grand swearing-in ceremony for more than 50 ministers and officials under the State Council, President Xi's absence was conspicuous.

Insiders say the trust that once bound the CCP leadership and the PLA is eroding. Despite Xi’s unprecedented consolidation of power, cracks appear to be forming, especially within the military, long considered his strongest pillar of support.

The quiet re-emergence of technocrats like Wang, once seen as a potential successor to Xi, and the gradual sidelining of “Xi Jinping Thought” from internal discourse suggest that Xi may be losing his grip.

History offers precedent. In 2022, Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, was unceremoniously escorted out of the CCP’s 20th Party Congress while Xi sat beside him, expressionless. That moment, captured on global television, sent shockwaves and was widely interpreted as a stark demonstration of Xi’s dominance.