Part 6/7:
Xi's loyal follower and pivotal figure in the party, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee, has also faced scrutiny. The approaches taken by state media in recent reports indicate that criticism of Cai’s performance is becoming more public and pronounced.
In a recent meeting of the Standing Committee, the previously unqualified praise for the Central Secretariat’s work under Cai was notably absent. This decline in affirmative descriptors implies a significant backlash against his work performance, pointing to discontent not just from Xi but also from other high-ranking officials within the leadership. The explicit critiques aim to emphasize the Secretariat’s deficiencies in political capability, task implementation, and overall effectiveness.