Coup d'etat, CHINA?

Let me clear this out, all the speculation that has been going around whether it's on Twitter or any other media/social media outlet, IS JUST SPECULATION! There have been no reports or verification from any credible sources.

IS XI JINPING FACING A COUP?

This started on Twitter where thousands of accounts shared that there have been a coup against Xi Jinping, along with a photograph of his successor. But most of these accounts are anonymous and have zero credibility. It is nothing but guesses about a political or military coup against President Xi Jinping based on reports of cancelled passenger flights in parts of China, Xi not being seen in public after returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, and footage allegedly of military vehicles moving towards the capital Beijing. 

The videos of the alleged military movement have surfaced. "This video of military vehicles moving to Beijing comes immediately after the grounding of 59 per cent of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials. There’s a lot of smoke, which means there is a fire somewhere inside the CCP. China is unstable," said author Gordon G Chang. 

This video of military vehicles moving to #Beijing comes immediately after the grounding of 59% of the flights in the country and the jailings of senior officials. There’s a lot of smoke, which means there is a fire somewhere inside the #CCP. #China is unstable. https://t.co/hSUS3210GR

— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) September 24, 2022

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has not reported any coup at all. It has tweeted in the last 24 hours about various issues concerning China and the world, but no hint about the alleged development in Beijing against Xi Jinping.

Even Indian media and international relations analysts have not claimed such development. Many even disregarded it as rumours not worth paying attention to. And the reason is very obvious, Xi has a very powerful institutional hold which makes a coup unlikely.

As for Xi Jinping's public disappearance and flights cancellation,

China expert Aadil Brar noted that Xi is likely in quarantine after returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which would explain his absence from public affairs at the moment. Brar also shared flight data showing there is no disruption of flights along with visuals of public briefings by senior Chinese officials, suggesting that the government is functioning normally.

No flights are cancelled anywhere. Look at number of flights in and out of China. pic.twitter.com/zohASE623C

— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) September 24, 2022

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