Former adviser sees influence by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Putin's recent decisions

Former Putin adviser Andrei Illarionov, speaking with DW, said it was likely Chinese President Xi Jinping and not Ukraine's counteroffensive that pushed the Russian president to make his recent announcements.

DW: What is your impression of the televised speech made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 21?

Andrei Illarionov: We need to understand why he made that speech, why he made his decision on mobilization, on [so-called] "referendums" in the four occupied regions of Ukraine, why he once again started to threaten to use nuclear weapons. All these decisions were announced within the space of three days, between September 19 and 21. All these decisions go against the policy Putin has been pursuing thus far, and against his previously known plans.

For example, referendums were expected to be held either at the end of this year or next year. All of a sudden, the Kremlin has given orders that they be held right away, within the space of just a few days: from September 23 to 27. This is a sham even by Kremlin standards. This is a sham even by the standards of the so-called Crimea referendum in 2014. We need to find an explanation for all these decisions.

Do you think these decisions are a sign of panic in the Kremlin?

I don't see much panic over there. Panic because of what?

Because of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kharkiv?

It doesn't look like the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kharkiv oblast is the cause of any changes in Putin's decisions and way of thinking. I have a different feeling. All those decisions were announced within the space of three days, between September 19 and 21. It means that those decisions were made by the Kremlin at least one or two days before that, meaning on September 17 and 18 . What happened on those dates?

It is presumed Xi was arrested September 16, upon return the China after the Summit; Putin would likely have heard about by the next day.

It looks like the most important event was Mr. Putin's return to Moscow from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand. It seems that Putin had some conversations there that forced him to make all those decisions.

The only meaningful person who could have such a conversation with Putin is Chairman Xi. So Xi seems to have told Putin something that forced Putin to reverse his attitudes towards the war, to radically change his previous plans for "referendums," for mobilization and for nuclear blackmail.

Can you guess what Xi said to Putin?

We don't know. But based on some leaks and on their body language, I would not exclude the possibility that Xi suggested to his junior partner to finish his business against Ukraine as soon as possible — for example, before the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October — and not with Putin's defeat. The fact that Russia has been waging war for seven months and has not been victorious is an embarrassment to Xi and makes him look weak before the most important event in his life. But Xi cannot allow himself to look weak.

This decision is a clear sign of a radical change in the strategy Putin has been pursuing for several months. Before Samarkand, Putin was ready to continue a long-term war of attrition — for years if necessary. The decisions of the last few days mean that his strategy has been radically changed. These are not signs of his weakness or defeat; these are signs of his dependence on Xi.

So if Putin's dependence on Xi's China has been removed, what now?

DW: In his address to the United Nations General Assembly this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will soon present a proposal for the creation of a special tribunal to try Russia. Is that a good idea? Or is there a risk that it would make Putin dig in his heels even more?

I think it is a right step. But Putin himself does not care about such statements. He is much more attentive to voices not from New York, but from Beijing.

What is the chance that Putin will be finished in this way?

Sooner or later Putin will be defeated. We just don't know when and what the price will be.

https://www.dw.com/en/former-adviser-sees-influence-by-chinese-president-xi-jinping-in-putins-recent-decisions/a-63217909

>>17574113

Is Xi Jinping under house arrest?

Beijing Airport canceled more than 6,000 domestic flights and international flights. Also, all tickets sold by the high-speed rail are suspended, and the rail is completely stopped until further notice

by Ansh Pandey

September 23, 2022

For the last two years, there was no place like home for Chinese President Xi Jinping. He had not moved out of his home in Beijing and was not meeting any world leader, not even any prominent CCP leader.

However, on September 14th, the tyrant leader finally moved out of his home for an SCO meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After a hiatus of two years, Xi departed for Central Asia by a special flight and attended the 22nd Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Now, the reports coming out of Beijing could rock the world. Global media has no idea what is going on with Xi Jinping at his home. Honestly, at this point those who want the tyrant to remain in power should forget about his third term; it appears that CCP veterans have already crushed his lust for power.

Xi returned to Beijing on the evening of 16th September after learning the truth. However, Xi Jinping was detained at the airport and most probably is currently being held under house arrest in Zhongnanhai’s house.

The current situation is being controlled by Hu Jintao.

On September 8th, the reform meeting of the finalizing committee was chaired by two vice-chairmen. The chairman of the operations, who is a loyalist to Xi, was removed from the meeting. Commander Li Qiaoming sat in the middle of the first row under the stage to participate in the meeting.

Now as Xi was out in Samarkand, Hu and Wen met Song Ping and persuaded him to turn rogue against Xi Jinping, who is about to go for his third term in power. Ping agreed to do so and then, Xi was detained by his own CGB guards.

The former CCP leaders foresaw that Xi Jinping’s loyalists would undoubtedly use aggression to topple Xi Jinping house arrest. Here, Li Qiaoming entered the scene. Qiaoming now has turned Beijing into a military fort. A large 80km convoy entered Beijing and closed all possible exits of the city. According to the source, the PLA is blocking highways and is currently said to be detaining protesters.

As the political unrest in Beijing was made known to Russian intelligence, Russian energy giant Gazprom momentarily halted gas flow through the Power of Siberia pipeline that sent Russian gas to China. Though Russia justified the cut as “scheduled maintenance work,” one can predict clearly that it was done to support Xi Jinping by making the protests uglier.

Now, let’s look at what happened yesterday. National defense was discussed at a Military Commission meeting yesterday. What remarkable here is the presence of Shenyang Kang in that meeting, who was fired by Xi Jinping. Li Qiaoming was again seated in the middle of the front row.

The current first elder of the CCP, Song Ping, who is 105 years old, made a prominent appearance at another meeting at Xiaoping Memory Hall and voiced his anti-Xi attitude. Ping demanded that the country undergo changes and opens up. According to him, the CCP should give this the highest priority for the sake of the nation. Almost every known CCP leader was present at the memory hall except for two, Xi Jinping himself and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The most suspicious event recently is Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s sudden visit to New York. He met with Henry Kissinger. On September 21, when Song Ping was irking against Xi Jinping, Wang Yi met with the former US secretary of state.

Kissinger is close to veteran CCP members and he made historic contributions to the establishment and development of China-United States relations. Doesn’t this sudden meeting raise questions about the real purpose behind it?

Though, nothing is coming out in open, and no such discussions are available on Weibo. However, based on Xi’s behavior over the past two years, it appears likely that Xi has always had an idea that CCP veterans are against him. The veterans had been urging Xi to modify his strict demeanor. But, Xi’s hunger for power was unquestionably standing in the way.

If these reports are accurate we can say that Xi’s tenure has come to a dead end. When this happens, Hu Jintao deserves all the credit for making this possible.

https://tfiglobalnews.com/2022/09/23/is-xi-jinping-under-house-arrest/