Fault Lines Episode 471: Missing in May: Xi Jinping’s Vanishing Act and Chinese Power Struggles
Today, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey unpack the swirl of rumors that emerged from Beijing after Chinese President Xi Jinping disappeared from public view for several weeks in May. With whispers of internal dissent, missed Politburo meetings, and PLA shakeups, questions are mounting about the stability of Xi’s leadership—and whether the Chinese Communist Party is entering a new phase of uncertainty.
As China grapples with deepening economic troubles, demographic decline, and foreign policy stumbles, speculation over leadership succession and elite discontent is running high. Is this a genuine power shift in the making—or a loyalty test typical of CCP politics? Either way, the turbulence may mark a weaker and more unpredictable chapter for Beijing.
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
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