Where Do Chinese Officials Disappear? Xi Jinping’s Terror Against Dissidents and Political Rivals Intensifies.
China is a very closed country in terms of information, so much of the analysis consists of conclusions based on long-term observation and information gathering from various open and less open sources. In fact, verifying this information and filtering it from structured propaganda is quite difficult. Therefore, we will divide it into facts and hypotheses.
The Fact Is as Follows:
In just one year, a number of Chinese political and military high-ranking officials have disappeared and later died due to illnesses or suicides. We deliberately do not take into account the disappearance of Chinese billionaires, reporters, and others, as there wouldn’t be enough space to list them all.
Just This Year:
The Death of China’s Second-in-Command in March 2023. This refers to the sudden death of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the second most powerful person in the country. He was considered a reformist politician and a key threat to Xi Jinping’s monopoly on power. Ten years ago, Li Keqiang was seen as the top contender to succeed former Communist Party leader Hu Jintao as the head of the country.
Rumors suggested that Li Keqiang had become increasingly oppositional toward Xi Jinping, especially after Xi’s third re-election. However, a "very sudden and timely heart attack" ended the threat to Xi. Media reports noted that Li Keqiang died from a heart attack in a Shanghai swimming pool, despite receiving some of the best medical care in the world and being under 24-hour medical supervision. Notably, official Beijing curtailed and restricted Li Keqiang’s memorial ceremonies without providing any explanation for such disrespect to one of China’s political leaders.
The Disappearance and Likely Death of Foreign Minister Qin Gang. On December 30, 2022, Qin Gang was appointed China’s Foreign Minister, and by June 2023, he had disappeared. Simultaneously, a smear campaign was launched in state media about Qin Gang’s "connections with the U.S.," an "illegitimate son with U.S. citizenship," and a "mistress." Western media reported that Qin Gang likely died either by suicide or torture.
Politico noted that Qin Gang and several high-ranking Chinese military officials disappeared after a meeting between Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko and Chinese representatives. According to multiple individuals with access to Chinese officials, Rudenko’s real mission in Beijing was to inform Xi Jinping that his Foreign Minister and several top PLA officers were collaborating with Western intelligence agencies.
The Disappearance and Suicides of High-Ranking Military Officials. At the same time that Foreign Minister Qin Gang vanished, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu also disappeared. Additionally, the following individuals went missing: Li Yuchao, Commander of the Rocket Forces, along with his deputy Liu Guangbin and former deputy Zhang Zhenzhong. Xi Jinping’s personal security commander, Wang Shaojun, disappeared slightly earlier, nearly 7 months ago. Official reports later stated that he died in October this year due to "incorrect treatment." In October, it was also announced that the missing Defense Minister Li Shangfu had officially been removed from office.
Summary of Events Over Six Months: The former Premier of China, who posed a threat to Xi Jinping, died suddenly in his swimming pool. The Foreign Minister was removed and likely died from torture or suicide. Xi Jinping’s personal security commander died after first disappearing and being dismissed. The Defense Minister and the Rocket Forces commander were dismissed and disappeared, along with dozens of other deputy commanders who are also considered "missing" or dead under strange circumstances.
This sequence of events no longer seems coincidental. It indicates that Xi Jinping fears losing his monopoly on power within the party. Today, China is experiencing one of its most severe economic crises, which is fueling widespread dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping’s policies.
While China’s communist political system and hybrid economy differ from the Soviet Union, and external circumstances are distinct, many believe — and we do too — that crises in such regimes are not only determined by specific events but are also naturally constrained by the lifespan of authoritarian systems.
The Key Reason — Elite Degeneration and Lack of Circulation. Authoritarian regimes severely limit elite circulation, which provides stability in democratic systems. Xi Jinping, a product of China’s collective farming system (details of his career path can be found online), sidelined and later destroyed much of China’s elite that had leaned toward certain levels of liberalization.
The absence of dissenting opinions within the political elite exacerbates an already inherent crisis within an authoritarian system. Therefore, repression is an impulsive method to maintain power and system integrity. Over time, however, the crisis will either escalate further, threatening systemic collapse, or internal aggression will be redirected toward "external enemies."
Why Taiwan Worries About 2027
This is why Taiwanese intelligence is deeply concerned about 2027 as a likely year for a Chinese invasion of the island. This date is a "critical threshold" in multiple respects