The Day of the Retired Officials Ritual

On February 13, 2026, mainland Chinese state media transitioned from the previous day's focus on basic research toward a synchronized display of party hierarchy. Throughout the morning, Xinhua, People’s Daily, and CCTV prioritized the annual ritual of 'Spring Festival greetings' to retired senior officials, a move highlighting internal continuity and elder respect within the CCP. This narrative was seamlessly integrated with reports of Xi Jinping’s continued 'grassroots' visits to Beijing households, where he emphasized family virtues and delivery worker contributions. By early afternoon, a sharp divergence emerged in external reporting. While domestic outlets maintained a paternalistic tone of festive harmony, the BBC and South China Morning Post reported on the fallout of General Zhang Youxia’s downfall and a renewed anti-corruption purge within the PLA. Simultaneously, international headlines focused on geopolitical friction, specifically U.S. warnings over China’s influence in Peru and the first Munich meeting between Wang Yi and Marco Rubio.