Beijing, China

Hu Xijin, a leading Chinese nationalist journalist, who, as per reports, had close ties to President Xi Jinping, has emerged after a six-week absence. 

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Xijin, whose disappearance had been a cause of puzzlement both in China and outside, revealed that he had been instructed to refrain from political commentary for three months. 

After weeks of speculation, Hu's friend Liu Jipeng, a noted economist, shared a video on Weibo revealing that Hu had been directed to stay away from political commentary until October 27. 

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Liu stated that Hu was currently on a "road trip" and that he understood the need for "more study" and a deeper understanding of Communist Party documents.

Watch what he said here:

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A notable silence

Hu, the former editor of the Global Times, a state-run English-language publication, had been notably silent on social media, where he is known for his staunchly nationalistic views praising the rise of China and the critique of Western 'hegemony'.

His disappearance followed the deletion of a post on Weibo, China's equivalent of X, where Hu had praised Xi and the Third Party Plenary Session held in July. 

In his deleted post, Hu on the surface, as per The Times, praised the Communist party summit for top leaders — held in July. However, he also outlined a significant policy shift: the elevation of private enterprises to equal status with state-owned sectors, a move he termed a "historic shift." 

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The suggestion of a departure from traditional Marxist doctrine, which prioritises state control over the economy, drew criticism from hardline leftists and was indirectly addressed in a People's Daily article that appeared to be an explanation of the conceptual errors in his views without explicitly naming him.

As per the report, the incident underscores the fine line "even loyalists have to be careful about attention to the detail of Party orthodoxy".