Commentary As the Beidaihe meeting is approaching, factional infighting within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has once again come under the spotlight. Although floods are wreaking havoc in parts of the country, the top leadership seems to care more about their political agendas and convening at the popular seaside resort in the coming weeks. The Beidaihe meeting or “summer summit” is held each year between July and August, and is attended by current and former top echelons of the CCP. Party factions conduct informal negotiations, discuss major national policies, and finalize decisions—although details are kept secret. The meetings are accompanied by state-controlled media propaganda as well as endless rumors of power struggles, assassinations, and coups. Beidaihe is located on China’s northern Bohai Sea coast in Hebei Province. On July 23, Hong Kong media Ming Pao revealed that security has been enhanced in Beidaihe and several Chinese rights defenders were arrested. …