Big Take What Xi Jinping’s Military Purge Means for China and the World
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Sep 2, 2025 John Liu, Bloomberg's expert on China's military and political landscape, discusses the dramatic purge of military leadership orchestrated by President Xi Jinping. They explore the implications of China's first military parade since 2019 and the struggles Xi may face in consolidating power. The conversation highlights the modernization of China's armed forces, tensions over Taiwan, and the South China Sea, revealing how these changes could reshape global power dynamics and influence international stability.
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Parade As Power Projection
- Xi uses the 2024 military parade to showcase PLA modernization and international influence.
- The event signals domestic strength and global reach by hosting foreign leaders like Putin and Kim Jong-un.
Unprecedented Purge Raises Questions
- Bloomberg found Xi is removing generals at a pace not seen since Mao, often targeting his own appointees.
- This raises questions about whether purges show Xi's control or signal internal pressures within the party.
Fall Of A Promoted Vice Chairman
- General He Weidong was promoted over peers to vice chairman but later vanished from public life.
- His disappearance is striking because Xi had personally elevated him, making the investigation notable.