President Xi Jinping is facing widespread opposition within his Communist Party and leading China into 'disaster', insider claims

A retired Chinese professor of the country's top political school has revealed that President Xi Jinping is facing widespread opposition within his own party.

Cai Xia, who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, also accused President Xi of 'killing a country' and leading China into 'disaster' in an interview with the Guardian.

Ms Cai made the remarks after being expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for allegedly calling President Xi a 'mafia boss' and his party a 'political zombie'.

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Cai Xia (left), who had taught democratic politics at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party before retiring, has accused the Chinese President Xi Jinping (right, pictured in 2019) of 'killing a country' and leading China into 'disaster' in an interview with the Guardian

Speaking to the Guardian, Ms Cai claimed that many wanted to leave the ruling party due to sweeping discontent.

She noted that few dared to speak out due to fears of retaliation.

Ms Cai was kicked out of the nation's Communist Party on Monday, according to her former employer.

She is the third prominent figure in recent months to be disciplined after criticising the country's government and its leader.

The school, which trains rising officials destined for promotion, announced in a statement that it had rescinded Ms Cai's Communist Party membership and retirement benefits for making remarks that 'had serious political problems and damaged the country's reputation'.

The notice on the school's website did not specify the remarks.

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Ms Cai is the third prominent figure in recent months to be disciplined after criticising President Xi and his party. The other two are professor Xu Zhangrun and tycoon Ren Zhiqiang,

Two Chinese political watchers, however, pointed to comments believed to be made by Ms Cai in a recording leaked online in June, arguing that replacing Xi as party chief would be the first step to saving the party from itself.

In the recording heard by Reuters, a woman identified as Ms Cai by fellow academics called Xi a 'mafia boss' who turned the party into his personal tool, and a 'political zombie.'

'If the Politburo Standing Committee has any sense of responsibility to the people, the country and the party, they should call for a meeting to replace Xi,' she said.

It was unclear where, when or to whom she was speaking.

Ms Cai could not be reached for comment.

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Xu Zhangrun (left), 57, accused President Xi of ruling 'tyrannically'. Beijing police detained the former law professor of distinguished Tsinghua University in July for 'soliciting prostitution' 

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In this file photo taken on December 3, 2012, Chinese real estate mogul Ren Zhiqiang poses for photos in his office in Beijing. Ren, former chairman of a state-owned real estate company, publicly criticised Xi's handling of the coronavirus pandemic before being investigated

Ms Cai is the grand-daughter of a revolutionary fighter and taught for four decades at the party school, giving her a solid 'red background'.

China has cracked down on dissent in recent years.

Last month, a law professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University who criticised Xi and the party was detained by police and then fired. The professor, Xu Zhangrun, is seeking to clear his name by overturning a prostitution charge brought against him by police, his lawyer has said.

Also last month, Ren Zhiqiang, who had been the influential chairman of a state property company, was ousted from the Communist Party after he called Xi a 'clown'.