On November 6, Beijing held elections for the renewal of district and township people's congress deputies. Former CCP General Secretary Hu Jintao entrusted staff members to cast his ballot on his behalf, marking the third consecutive election since 2016 that he has not voted in person.
Online reports claim that retired elders such as Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and Zeng Qinghong held a private brainstorming session, discussing the political line, the retirement system, and how to pull back the recent overemphasis on national security; whether the meeting actually took place cannot be verified.
Thirteen retired state-level elders, including Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, and Wang Qishan, attended a high-level political ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Hu Jintao's absence has sparked various rumors regarding Beidaihe secret talks and power succession.
Overseas political commentator reports that Hu Jintao has entered a critical condition, with his family members and related personnel having rushed back from the United States and gathered at the 301 Hospital.
It circulated online that Hu Jintao, Liu Yongqing and Hu Haifeng's whole family suffered food poisoning and all died after being taken to hospital; the poster later claimed the account had been impersonated, and the rumor was debunked.
Phoenix Television director Qin Feng was suspected of revealing on the X platform that Hu Jintao, Liu Yongqing and Hu Haifeng were poisoned at dinner; Qin Feng later personally replied that it was a photoshopped image and that those who believed it were the "basic demographic of telecom fraud." The claim drew widespread attention and speculation.
The video points out that the new Air Force commander Wang Gang was a subordinate of Zheng Qunliang, a senior general whom Hu Jintao promoted back in the day, and that he belongs to Hu's faction.
People’s Daily reported on the funeral of Song Ping, former Chinese State Councillor, mentioning that Hu Jintao and other comrades went to the hospital to visit him or expressed their condolences.
A farewell ceremony for Song Ping's remains was held at Babaoshan in Beijing. Xinhua News Agency reported that several senior officials, including the seven members of the Standing Committee, were in attendance; Hu Jintao did not attend.
Chinese Communist Party elder Song Ping has passed away at the age of 109. Xinhua News Agency reported that Hu Jintao sent a wreath to express his condolences.
People's Daily reported that Xi Jinping visited veteran comrades during the Chinese New Year, in which Hu Jintao was mentioned.
There have been claims that generals including Li Zuocheng proposed a plan to bring the 38th Army's heavy units into Beijing, impose air traffic control, and declare martial law in the capital, only to be blocked by Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao; this claim has no public reports to corroborate it.
In July 2025, rumors that Hu Jintao was critically ill circulated overseas, claiming that his daughter-in-law and grandson rushed from Shanghai to Beijing's 301 Hospital to keep vigil, and that Hu Haifeng also went to the hospital after getting off work.
Sources claim that Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli directed the military to control the venue during the Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee; it is alleged that Hu Jintao had not agreed to handle the top figure at the venue; this claim has no public reports to corroborate it.
Overseas rumors suggest that Xi Jinping suffered a stroke during the Third Plenary Session, military control changed hands, and Zhang Youxia placed him under control while contacting Hu Jintao through Liu Yuan.