Cai Qi · Full chronicle and history

Zhang Shuofu, formerly Beijing's Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, was announced under investigation on October 8. He had once been Cai Qi's key assistant in Beijing for carrying out arrests.

On October 3, The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that during Xi Jinping's visit to the US in September, the Chinese side requested a private resting room in the West Wing of the White House, with only Peng Liyuan permitted to accompany him, while delegation members such as Cai Qi were barred from using it. The working lunch on September 24 was also canceled, leaving a gap of about five hours on the agenda, and the visit to the National Archives lasted only about ten minutes.

On September 23, Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi Jinping had left Beijing by special plane for a state visit to the United States. His entourage included Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, and Wang Yi, among others.

On September 17, Bloomberg reported that when screening the list of business delegates accompanying Xi Jinping on his visit to the US, the Chinese side not only considered potential commercial deals, but also focused on evaluating the entrepreneurs' political loyalty and demanded that they avoid overshadowing the leader. Currently, senior officials such as Cai Qi are reviewing the list, with BYD founder Wang Chuanfu under consideration.

On September 17, Bloomberg cited people familiar with the matter as saying that when China screens the entrepreneurs for Xi Jinping's US visit, in addition to considering potential US business deals, it also weighs their loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and whether they can avoid stealing the spotlight. Senior officials such as Cai Qi are reviewing the delegation list, and BYD founder Wang Chuanfu is under consideration.

Bloomberg revealed that Central Office Director Cai Qi is personally reviewing the list of accompanying business magnates, including BYD's Wang Chuanfu, and has set multiple strict screening criteria.

The video points out that Xi Jinping has not appeared in public for four consecutive days (96 hours), sparking speculation about his health and the political situation. Media reports are filled with false information such as "Xi Jinping congratulates," while the absence of his name in official media has intensified outside suspicion. Meanwhile, Cai Qi, who has close ties to Xi, has also not appeared, deepening concerns about Xi's health and suggesting that the CCP regime is like a powder keg; any issues with the top leader could trigger turmoil among various factions.

From August 30 to September 3, Xi Jinping attended the SCO summit and visited Egypt, and from September 12 to 13 he traveled to New Delhi, India, with Cai Qi, director of the CCP General Office, accompanying him throughout. Reports said he was in poor condition during his stay in India and skipped the formal banquet that evening.

Yin Ke, a former insider now living in Australia, posted at 4:40 a.m. Eastern Time on August 26, revealing that Cai Qi has been subject to a written inquiry.

The centenary commemoration of Jiang Zemin was held, and Cai Qi was accused of speaking on behalf of the conservatives, continuing to emphasize the "Two Establishes" and the "Two Safeguards" in his remarks.

It is alleged that Xi Jinping instructed Cai Qi to publish an article mentioning political splits and ideological differences within the CCP, and demanding peace and unity within the Party.

The Beidaihe Meeting convened on August 3, and the top leaders of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) entered the Beidaihe activity period as is customary.

Cai Qi visited vacationing experts in Beidaihe on behalf of Xi Jinping's commission, accompanied by Shi Taifeng and Wu Zhenglong; Chen Yiqin did not attend.

Cai Qi visited experts on summer vacation in Beidaihe, extending greetings on behalf of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council. The official report stated he was entrusted by the General Secretary.

The CCP's 20th Central Committee left it until the last minute to finalize the date of its Fifth Plenary Session, and the notice focuses on strictly governing the Party, reflecting a lack of consensus within the Party due to the fiscal crisis and the collapse of the spoils-sharing table.

Reports of an internal clash within the Chinese Communist Party emerged during the Beidaihe meeting. Xi Jinping did not appear in public for several days, with only Li Qiang, Cai Qi and others attending related activities, sparking speculation abroad about changes at the top of Chinese politics.

Whistleblower Jiang Wangzheng released a secret memo stating that Yuan Jiajun will take up the post of director of the CCP Central Committee General Office, that Cai Qi will hand over the position, and that he is paving the way for his son. The list is described as an agenda item for next month's Politburo meeting.

The Chinese Navy's Task Group 83 has set sail for a visit to Indonesia.

On the day the Politburo decided the dates of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, Cai Qi still appeared at a symposium with non-party figures held at Zhongnanhai.

The Central Committee held a special meeting on rectifying formalism and reducing the burden on the grassroots. Cai Qi attended and arranged for 'tackling the issue of new officials ignoring old debts and focusing on the rectification of prominent problems'.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), appeared at a cultural and artistic performance marking the 105th anniversary of the Party's founding after 12 days of disappearance; Hu Liren pointed to his awkward expression and the tight security at the venue, speculating that he may have been placed under Xi Jinping's control and subjected to an investigation.

Xinhua News Agency issued an appointment and removal notice; Cai Qi concurrently serves as president of the National Academy of Governance. Hu Liren believes this is a signal that Xi Jinping is weakening Cai Qi's power.

Xinhua News Agency released a State Council appointment and removal announcement, stating that Cai Qi concurrently serves as the President of the Chinese Academy of Governance, and Chen Xi no longer holds the position.

Xinhua News Agency announced 'Xi Jinping's Thought on Party Building.' Head of the Organization Department Shi Taifeng chaired the meeting, and Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Liu Jianguo attended. Cai Qi only delivered a keynote speech and did not hold dominant control.

Cai Qi was spotted on camera accompanying Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un on a walk in North Korea. This marks his final joint public appearance before his recent frequent absences from public events.

The CCP Central Committee Party School held the graduation ceremony for the second batch of classes of the spring semester. Official releases showed that Cai Qi has taken over the position of President of the Party School.

On June 5, 2026, Chen Xi stepped down as President of the Central Party School, and Cai Qi took over the relevant personnel powers.

Due to the incident of a plane crashing into China Zun in Beijing and the involvement of his son Cai Erjin in the low-altitude economy industry, Cai Qi, who is in charge of capital security, is rumored to have gone into hiding for investigation.

Cai Qi, leader of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, issued a notice on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought, demanding study across the entire Party.

After accompanying Xi Jinping to receive Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, Cai Qi has successively missed important diplomatic events such as receiving Cambodia's Hun Sen and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, triggering external speculation that he has gone missing or lost power.

In June 2026, Xi Jinping and his wife visited North Korea, accompanied by Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CCP Central Committee.

It is rumored that Zhou Hongxu, Director of the Central Guard Bureau, broke away from Cai Qi's control during the 2026 Two Sessions in March and demanded immediate military action but received no order from the Central Military Commission. Old military leaders such as Liu Yuan and Li Zuocheng reportedly reached out to him, urging him to obey the arrangements of Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.

Rumor has it that on January 20, 2026, the day an incident involving Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli occurred at the Central Party School, Cai Qi briefly took control of the two men: Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin and Director of the Central Guard Bureau Zhou Hongxu.

Chen Xi, Wang Xiaohong, Cai Qi and others are suspected of setting an ambush at the Central Party School, taking coercive action against Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.

Cai Qi, then Beijing Party Secretary, stressed at a meeting that bayonets must draw blood, and directed the large-scale expulsion of Beijing's low-end population, which left large numbers of people sleeping on the streets in the bitter winter and drew worldwide condemnation.