Xi Elevates Anniversary for Pro-Democratic Chinese Official Amid Rising Elite Friction

Beijing’s elevated tribute appears aimed at placating red-elite families and internal critics as Chinese leader Xi Jinping works to secure another term.A member of the honour guard stands in front of the Great Hall of the People from the Monument to the People’s Heroes, in Tiananmen Square, in Beijing on Nov. 12, 2025. Andres Martinez Casares /EPA-POOL/AFP via Getty Images11/23/2025|Updated: 11/23/2025News AnalysisThe Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held an unusually high-profile ceremony this week to mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of Hu Yaobang, a former leader whose legacy involved embracing pro-democratic reforms, which eventually led to the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests.Michael Zhuang is a contributor to The Epoch Times with a focus on China-related topics.Author’s Selected Articles