Hu Jintao (79), ex-party leader, sat on the podium next to Xi Jinping (69) at the Communist Party Congress last week. Then he was suddenly led out.
New images have now surfaced showing what happened before Hu Jintao was taken out of a session. The videos show outgoing Politburo member Li Zhanshu (72) taking a file from Hu Jintao’s left hand and talking frantically to him.
Mysterious document snatched from Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao puts his hand on the document again, presumably trying to pull it out again. But the conversation continues, Lu Zhanshu moves the file further away from the ex-party leader.
The new footage, filmed by Channel News Asia, suggests the document may have played a role. China’s current head of state, Xi Jinping, sees the scene around the document and summons a man.
Suddenly, he gives him detailed instructions – right next to Hu Jintao, who seems incredulous. The man then tries to make Hu Jintao leave.
Help is withdrawn from the jacket
Li Zhanshu then seemed about to help Hu. But he was apparently dragged back to his seat by Wang Huning (67) to his left – on the jacket.
Hu Jintao then says something to Xi Jinping. That while she is escorted outside. It is not clear what the ex-head of state said. Xi seems to be nodding, or at least responding to something.
alleged malaise
For the West, there was then a bad explanation from the state news agency on Twitter – blocked in China – that Hu was “not feeling well”. His associates had moved him to an adjoining room and he was better now.
However, there is much to be said against it. The recordings do not disprove the official story that Hu was ill. However, they raise even more serious doubts.
The unexpected moment fueled speculation: some believe it was an intentional power play by Xi to show that the more consensual Hu era was finally over, while others suggested it could be due to Hu’s ill health.
Not sure what was in the file
The BBC interviews expert Deng Yuwen, a former editor of the Communist
n Study Times party newspaper, on the document. He says there’s no reason Hu should lay down a document that Hu wasn’t allowed to read right in front of him during such a high-profile meeting in front of cameras.
He says: “It was indeed an unusual situation. No one can explain this until there is more evidence of what was in the file or what was said on the spot.”
The mystery surrounding Hu Jintao’s apparent humiliation only grows. (EU)