Online Post Purportedly By Chinese Students Calls For Restoring Term Limits For Xi

An unverified “open letter” purportedly from students at 14 Chinese universities appeared on a Chinese-language website on 26 October, calling for restoring term limits for China’s president, amending the constitution democratically, and creating protected space for public discussion of national affairs. Radio Free Asia said it could not confirm the letter’s origin inside China, including the identity of the listed author “Lin Ziyi” or the authenticity of listed student signatories. RFA found the hosting site registered with a South Korean country code, a Singapore mailing address, and a Tencent email. The letter was posted as the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee opened and argued against the 2018 constitutional change that removed the two-term limit, enabling Xi Jinping’s third term starting in 2023.