- Monday, March 10, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
The internet went abuzz on Saturday (24) with claims that Chinese president Xi Jinping, one of the most powerful holders of the post in history, was put under house arrest. A number of social media handles said it happened after senior leaders of the 100-plus -year-old Chinese Communist Party removed him as the head of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
There were also claims that Beijing was under military seizure and some former leaders of China persuaded Song Ping, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, to retain control of the Central Guard Bureau.
ALSO READ: Mass cancellation of flights; rumours of president Xi under house arrest: What’s cooking in China?
Reports also said that Xi was detained at the airport after he returned to China from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit which was held last week in Samarkand in Uzbekistan and was most probably under house arrest. One Twitter post even said that PLA commander General Li Qiaoming was the new president of China. Another one said several flights from China were cancelled.
There were also posts on Twitter saying that military vehicles were heading to Beijing on Thursday (22) starting from Huanlai City near the Chinese capital and ending in Zhangjiakou City in Hebei Province, making up a procession which is 80 kilometres long.
#PLA military vehicles heading to #Beijing on Sep 22. Starting from Huanlai County near Beijing & ending in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, entire procession as long as 80 KM. Meanwhile, rumor has it that #XiJinping was under arrest after #CCP seniors removed him as head of PLA pic.twitter.com/hODcknQMhE
— Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferatntd) September 23, 2022
It can be mentioned here that China’s former deputy security minister Sun Lijun, who allegedly led a “political clique” and showed little loyalty to Xi, was given a life sentence on Friday (24), ahead of a crucial Communist Party Congress. He was accused of seriously denouncing the party’s unity.
The sentencing came after five former chiefs of police who were implicated in Sun’s corruption case were imprisoned earlier this week, suggesting that the biggest purge in China’s security apparatus was heading to a conclusion.
However, the authenticity of the claims could not be verified since no major news channels of the world, including those in China, carried any news related to the internet buzz at the time of writing this report.
Here are some Twitter posts related to the alleged house arrest of Xi that broke the internet on Saturday:
The PLA has taken control of China. Xi put under house arrest. General #LiQiaoming is the new president.#XiJinping #chinacoup pic.twitter.com/QTwQQlEsqK
— Melvin (@melvin2mathew) September 24, 2022
#PLA military vehicles heading to #Beijing on Sep 22. Starting from Huanlai County near Beijing & ending in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, entire procession as long as 80 KM. Meanwhile, rumor has it that #XiJinping was under arrest after #CCP seniors removed him as head of PLA pic.twitter.com/hODcknQMhE
— Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferatntd) September 23, 2022
The news about #XiJinping can be true because 60% of flights from China are cancelled. pic.twitter.com/qRnd7izomv
— Nitin singh katoch (@MrnitinSingh) September 24, 2022
-Coup in #China news:Real or Fake, not clear❓
-Mass Cancellation of Flights Across China: 60% fights were canceled yesterday, authentic news?
-There could be huge churning before 20th National Congress of #CCP
-That's why #XiJinping didn't step out for 2.5 yr❓
-I will get back pic.twitter.com/Spaib2fY66— Insightful Geopolitics (@InsightGL) September 24, 2022
#XiJinping has been the worst president of China ever, this was inevitable. If it is not already happening, it surely will happen in the future. https://t.co/uzhGWFT1kY
— Wondering Woman ?? (@indiclogic) September 24, 2022
Not confirmed but Its a rumour that chinese President Xi Jinping is house arrest and military (PLA) is going to take over the country's leadership.#China #XiJinping #PLA
— Rajeev Rai (@Rajeev_Bharat) September 24, 2022
Twitter space is abuzz with rumours of a military coup in China. Xi Jinping is rumoured to be under arrest and very long military motorcade moving towards Beijing.
Isn't this too good to be true? pic.twitter.com/UvleXrwAwD
— Sajith Kumar (@sajith2009) September 24, 2022
