China, or specifically, the Communist Party of China (CCP), is gearing up for the once-every-five-years national congress set to begin on October 16. The 20th National Congress was already in focus as President Xi is expected to seek an unprecedented third term in office.
But the past few weeks have intensified the focus on the country and the national congress in Beijing.
The Rumor Mill
President Xi made his first foreign visit since the pandemic to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Samarkhand, Uzbekistan. It was rumored that a coup was underway during his absence from the country. Further, speculation arose that his security guards placed him under house arrest on his return. President Xi's absence from public events was seen as a sign that all was not as it should be.
