Chapter 40: Reassessing Hu Jintao: Daring to Confront Xi Jinping, Still with Hope of a Return

Hu Jintao (1942– ), a native of Taizhou, Jiangsu Province. He graduated from the Department of Water Resources Engineering at Tsinghua University and worked in Gansu, where he was noticed and promoted by Song Ping. In 1984, he succeeded Hu Yaobang as First Secretary of the Communist Youth League. Hu later presided over work in Guizhou and Tibet, serving as First Party Secretary in both regions. In 2002, he succeeded Jiang Zemin as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), advocating the concepts of the “Scientific Outlook on Development” and a “Harmonious Society.”

I. Calm in Conduct, Quick in Thought

U.S. President George W. Bush described Hu Jintao in his memoir as “calm in handling affairs and quick in thinking,” calling him “a practical leader focused on national governance.” On June 5, 2012, People’s Daily published an article titled “The Golden Ten Years,” describing Hu Jintao’s decade in power as “ten years of glorious blossoming, ten years written in capital letters.”

When Xi Jinping succeeded him, Hu Jintao transferred power in one step, fully handing over the positions of State President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, demonstrating what the CCP called his “noble character and lofty integrity.” According to long-standing CCP practice, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission holds the greatest and ultimate power, surpassing that of the State President. When Jiang Zemin transferred power to Hu Jintao, he handed over only the presidency while retaining the chairmanship of the Military Commission, not relinquishing it until seven years later.

II. People-Oriented Governance and a Harmonious Society

Hu Jintao advocated the concept of a “Harmonious Society.” In 2006, he published a special article titled “Social Harmony Is a Distinctive Feature of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics,” in which he explicitly proposed political slogans such as “governing for the people” and “power belongs to the people,” laying public-opinion groundwork for transforming the Communist Party’s political system toward democratic politics.

Hu Jintao frequently cited Confucius’s principle of “harmony as the highest value,” Mozi’s idea of “universal love,” and Mencius’s teachings—“care for the elderly as one’s own elders” and “care for the young as one’s own young”—emphasizing that policymaking should embody a “people-centered” approach. During his tenure overseeing work in Tibet, he proposed building “a new civilized and harmonious Tibet” and promoting “a harmonious Tibet with long-term stability.”

While in office, Hu Jintao oversaw the production of 270 “Harmony” (Hexie) high-speed locomotives that ran across the national railway network, widely publicizing the ideals of a “harmonious society” and “harmonious politics,” replacing Mao Zedong’s doctrine of “class struggle as the guiding principle.”

In 2009, Hu Jintao strongly supported the production of the film Confucius, personally following its progress and personally inspecting the filming process, encouraging the directors and producers to complete the movie.

III. Erecting Confucius and Reviving Tradition

In 2011, Hu Jintao approved the erection of a 9.5-meter-tall statue of Confucius beside the National Museum east of Tiananmen Square. This became major news both domestically and internationally and received broad public support. Mao Zedong had once launched campaigns to “criticize Lin Biao and Confucius,” but now Confucius had returned, and the nation rejoiced. Confucius represents traditional Chinese culture and has embodied Chinese moral values for over 2,000 years, forming a primary spiritual foundation for the Chinese people.

Unfortunately, this effort was unacceptable to Jiang Zemin, the paramount elder determined to preserve Mao Zedong Thought. Jiang ordered the statue of Confucius to be removed. After standing for only three months, the massive statue was dismantled overnight in accordance with the elder’s command. Hu Jintao’s efforts to “revive Confucius” suffered a severe setback, and to this day the statue remains stored away in the museum.

Hu Jintao’s promotion of “harmonious society,” “harmonious politics,” “people-centered governance,” “governing for the people,” and “reviving Confucius” were all intended to prepare public opinion for the CCP’s “transformation” toward democratic politics. Hu planned for his successor, Li Keqiang, to complete this institutional transformation. Unfortunately, the paramount elder Jiang Zemin forcibly imposed his favored candidate, Xi Jinping, as successor, causing the revival of Confucius and political transformation to collapse. Subsequently, Xi Jinping monopolized power by chairing 11 central leading groups, pursued ambitions of “global governance,” expanded outward, sought to replace the United States, and initiated a disastrous confrontation with America.

IV. Forcibly Escorted from the Presidium by Xi Jinping

On the final day of the CCP’s 20th National Congress in October 2022, a shocking incident occurred on the presidium: Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping struggled over congress documents. Xi Jinping then ordered security personnel to escort Hu Jintao off the stage. The entire incident was captured by Chinese and international media.

The reason lay in Xi Jinping’s personal dictatorship and one-man rule. The final list of the seven Standing Committee members was held exclusively by Xi, unknown to anyone else, kept secret even from elder statesmen like Hu Jintao. Before the list was announced, Hu Jintao wanted to take a look, but Xi refused to let go of the documents. Hu was particularly concerned about whether Li Keqiang and Wang Yang—both still eligible at age 67—were included. They were not.

Hu Jintao became angry and attempted to see the list himself, but Xi still refused. Xi intended to announce the six Standing Committee members on his own authority, signaling total control. He stood above the Standing Committee, appointing them himself. In the end, he refused to release the documents and summoned security to remove Hu Jintao from the stage.

V. Demonstrating the Courage to Struggle

Hu Jintao overturned the public image of him as gentle and weak. By daring to confront Xi Jinping over the documents, he demonstrated a new image of courage in resisting dictatorial authoritarianism. After ten years of Xi monopolizing power through 11 leading group chairmanships—an unprecedented concentration of authority—Hu Jintao had reached the limit of his tolerance.

Even the Standing Committee, which should have been produced through collective consultation and selection, was kept secret until the final moment. Hu Jintao simply wanted to see the list before its announcement, yet Xi Jinping refused outright.

VI. Still a Chance for a Return

Hu Jintao has just passed his 80th birthday and remains in good health. Over the next five to ten years, he may still attend the 21st and 22nd CCP National Congresses, posing a test to Xi Jinping’s ability to control the situation. Hu Jintao still has opportunities to challenge Xi Jinping.

He enjoys broad support from both the Party and the public. Following Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang, Hu Jintao remains a leader with the potential to guide China away from Mao Zedong’s legacy and toward democratic political transformation. In the future, he may still have an opportunity to return.