Xi Jinping Weakened? China Analyst Gordon Chang on Power Struggles and US Relations

Xi Jinping's Diminished Authority

• 📌 After a period of absence, Xi Jinping has reappeared, but China analyst Gordon Chang suggests he is a weakened leader.
• ⚠️ Signs indicate that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are actively limiting Xi's power.

Military Power Dynamics

• ⚔️ The Chinese military's propaganda organ, PLA Daily, has published articles praising collective leadership, a direct challenge to Xi's authority.
• 📉 This suggests that Xi's adversaries, rather than Xi himself, are purging his loyalists within the military.
• 🚫 Xi Jinping has lost control of the most powerful faction in the Communist Party: the Chinese military.

Civilian Political Landscape

• 📉 Regulations from the Politburo on June 30th are seen as clear steps to limit Xi Jinping's power.
• 🌍 Xi's absence from the BRICS summit is another significant indicator of his weakening influence.
• 🌪️ There is considerable turmoil within the Chinese regime, leading to instability.

Xi's Anti-Corruption Campaign

• 🧐 The anti-corruption campaign against military generals was primarily a means for Xi to eliminate his opponents rather than a genuine effort to curb corruption.
• 📉 While Xi once had full control of the military, including through purges and restructuring, he has now lost that grip.

US-China Relations and Trade

• 🚫 A final trade deal with China is unlikely, as China has a history of violating trade obligations, even after signing agreements.
• 📈 China has not complied with trade deals since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, and there's no reason to expect compliance now.
• 🔒 The US is considering prohibiting Chinese nationals from purchasing US farmland, especially near military bases, mirroring China's own restrictions on foreign land ownership.