Gordon Chang: Xi Jinping Has Lost Control of China's Military Amidst Economic Turmoil

UK Prime Minister's Visit to China

• 🇬🇧 Kish Starmer's visit to Beijing is described as dangerous, with China humiliating him and offering little in return, such as a minor tariff reduction on whiskey.
• 💡 Western companies aiding China's biotech sector is a bad idea, potentially supporting their weapons programs, as seen with the origins of COVID-19.

China's Economic Struggles and Western Engagement

• 📉 The Chinese economy is described as crumbling, leading to the regime's instability and causing Chinese leaders to lash out.
• 🤝 Western leaders, including Macron and Scholz, are continuing to visit China, which is seen as bowing and scraping, but China is expected to treat them poorly.
• 🇺🇸 There is a hope that President Trump can repair relations with traditional allies to prevent such occurrences.

Panama Ports National Security Win

• 🇵🇦 The Trump administration secured a national security win as Panama's Supreme Court ruled against Hong Kong-based CK Hutchinson's contract to oversee ports along the Panama Canal.
• 🇺🇸 This ruling opens the door for a Black Rock consortium to acquire the ports, restoring American control.
• ⚠️ China has been effective at infiltrating ports globally, and companies like Hutchinson, now under CCP rule, are seen as an extension of the Communist Party and untrustworthy.

Turmoil in China's Military

• ⚔️ Since mid-2023, at least 60 senior military officers and defense industry executives in China have been placed under investigation or removed from public office.
• 🧠 This shakeup has left the Chinese military in disarray, with the chain of command severed and key officers with wartime experience removed.
• 🧐 It is suggested that Xi Jinping's adversaries may be responsible for many dismissals, indicating that Xi Jinping has lost control of the military and is struggling to regain it.

China's Space and AI Ambitions

• 🚀 China is investing heavily in space efforts but is behind the US, particularly in the race for lunar colonization.
• 🛰️ The US is well ahead due to companies like SpaceX, with reusable heavy lifters critical for moon colonization.
• 🤖 Beijing is also planning to build a space-based AI data center within the next five years.