An online letter names 14 universities, but evidence of student participation remains unconfirmed.
An open letter attributed to students from several Chinese universities has called for restoring presidential term limits, according to Radio Free Asia. Its authorship and claims of student support remain unverified.
The appeal appeared on the Chinese-language forum Siyuan Lake BBS on Monday, October 26, 2026. It questions the 2018 constitutional amendment that removed the two-term limit on China’s presidency, allowing Xi Jinping to remain in office beyond that restriction.
Alongside restoring presidential term limits, the letter seeks clear tenure limits for senior Communist Party leaders, broader public participation in constitutional reform and safeguards for citizens discussing national affairs.
The post lists 14 universities, including Peking University, Renmin University of China and Tongji University. However, it provides no individual signatures or supporting evidence confirming participation from those institutions.
RFA said it could not establish the author’s identity, whether the purported supporters were students or whether the letter originated within China.
The appeal’s demands are explicit, but its provenance remains uncertain. The available evidence does not establish that it represents a coordinated student movement or wider sentiment across Chinese campuses.
