12 articles
Xi Jinping's unusual 133-day stay in Beijing and his cautious visit to Xiongan highlight deep-seated security fears and potential military discontent. A past flood disaster involving the 82nd Group Army may fuel a "blood feud" against the leader.
Xi Jinping's recent trip to Xiong'an, his envisioned "future capital," breaks with tradition and signals deeper political currents. The visit attempts to project strength amidst rising questions about military loyalty and public perception, highlighting the risks of his carefully staged public appearances.
China is increasing its military spending by 7%, allocating nearly $276 billion USD. The buildup is largely focused on potential reunification with Taiwan and includes investments in advanced technologies like AI and drones, as well as a rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal. Experts believe an immediate conflict is unlikely, but China's growing military might presents significant global questions.
China's new policy to arrange marriages for unmarried soldiers echoes a dark chapter of population engineering from the 1950s. The initiative, framed as supporting military morale, raises concerns about women being used as political tools, mirroring historical coercion and exploitation.
An unprecedented 192-hour silence from the PLA over the Taiwan Strait sparked speculation. Was it a peace gesture, a hidden 'kill switch' activated during global conflicts, or a sign of deeper military vulnerabilities within China?
China's 2026 Two Sessions revealed unsettling undercurrents, from leadership unease to drastic demographic proposals. Most surprising was a new initiative promoting matchmaking for remote PLA soldiers, hinting at a deeper strategy to stabilize the military amidst purges and population decline.
A leaked letter, purportedly from the son of high-ranking Chinese General Zhang Youxia, has sent ripples through Beijing's elite, challenging the legality of his alleged detention and implicitly warning President Xi Jinping. While its authenticity is debated, the letter's circulation within influential 'princeling' networks underscores deep-seated tensions within the military and political establishment, hinting at unprecedented resistance to Xi's authority.
Recent observations surrounding Chinese President Xi Jinping, including an unprecedented three-month seclusion in Beijing and a virtual military inspection, suggest a leader potentially grappling with internal dissent and a military establishment unsettled by purges. Further signaling potential cracks in his control, a politically controversial folk singer with ties to Xi's rivals made a high-profile comeback on state media, hinting at ongoing power struggles within the CCP.
Recent large-scale troop movements across China, following the arrest of a prominent general, have fueled intense speculation: is it an anti-Xi Jinping rebellion or sophisticated political theater? While some point to coordinated anti-Xi factions exerting pressure, insider accounts reveal immense challenges to staging a coup. An alternative theory suggests these movements are localized displays of force, signaling resistance to Beijing's demands for loyalty without open defiance.
Beijing's announcement of the downfall of senior PLA generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli has ignited a firestorm of speculation, revealing deep rifts within China's military elite. While Western experts suggest Xi Jinping's power remains unchallenged, a compelling counter-narrative points to a desperate power play by Xi to regain control following a rumored health crisis and a challenge from party elders. This unprecedented internal turmoil casts a long shadow over China's stability and its geopolitical ambitions, particularly concerning Taiwan.
