Video of Hu Jintao Pulled From CCP Congress 'Chilling': Ex-NATO Commander

Video posted to social media showed Hu, who served as China's president from 2003 to 2013 and seated next to current President Xi Jinping, being escorted out of the CCP's closing ceremony on Saturday. The video shows a man repeatedly pull Hu from his seat, who appears to try to grab a piece of paper in front of Xi. However, Xi places his hand on it. Stavridis, who served as the NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2009 to 2013, shared his concerns about the video on Twitter. The ceremony comes as Xi is set to begin his third term as China's president, breaking from precedent. First rising to his leadership role in 2012, he has spent the past decade consolidating support within the CCP. It also comes at a tumultuous time for China's international relations. China has found itself as perhaps Russia's most powerful ally amid Moscow's flailing invasion of Ukraine. Newsweek reached out to China's foreign press office for comment.