China Insider China Insider | CCP’s Fourth Plenum, ASEAN and APEC Summits, Japan’s New Prime Minister
Oct 28, 2025
The discussion dives into the Chinese Communist Party's fourth plenum, revealing Xi Jinping's consolidation of power and recent military purges. Insights on the ASEAN summit highlight US-China trade dynamics and regional responses. Upcoming APEC talks with Trump and Xi are analyzed, with potential trade implications. Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is explored, particularly her conservative stance and its effect on China-Japan relations. The strategic role of Japan in Indo-Pacific deterrence further emphasizes the shifting geopolitical landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Plenum Reinforces Xi’s Political Core
- The fourth plenum emphasized party unity and loyalty to Xi Jinping across all sectors, showing consolidated power rather than weakening.
- The communique links economic, military, science, and diplomacy goals tightly to ideological control under Xi.
New Defense Doctrine And Purges
- Xi introduced a new defense posture: be combative, be ready for war, and build the military aggressively.
- This posture accompanied purges of senior PLA leaders and consolidates operational control under Xi.
Promotion Signals Loyalty Over Expertise
- Zhang Shengmin, a military discipline and prosecutions specialist, replaced purged operational leaders in the CMC.
- His promotion signals focus on loyalty enforcement, not improving PLA operational capability.