Bannon`s War Room WarRoom Battleground EP 873: President Xi Purges Top Military As Speculation Hints At Failed Coup
Oct 20, 2025
Captain Jim Fennell, a military analyst specializing in China, joins Ava Chen and Forrest Zhao from the New Federal State of China movement. They delve into Xi Jinping's recent purge of military leaders, exploring its implications for his grip on power. The guests share insights on internal CCP factionalism, comparing Xi's tactics to historical purges by Stalin and Mao. They also discuss the economic pressures facing China and speculate on the strategic implications for US-China relations and Taiwan, raising the question of whether Xi's reign is in jeopardy.
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Centralization Breeds Later Fragmentation
- Xi's consolidation to 'peak centralization' increases the risk of systemic fragmentation afterward.
- Jim Rickards says the pattern repeats across Chinese history: centralize, then fragment into competing powers.
Economic Stress Amplifies Political Risk
- Jim Rickards links China's political struggle to acute economic weakness and reporting distortions.
- He warns GDP and credit strains compound Xi's political vulnerabilities.
Hu Jintao's Public Humiliation
- Jim Rickards recounts the public humiliation of Hu Jintao at a recent leadership event.
- He uses the incident to illustrate that factional leaders may be suppressed but not eliminated.