Battle Lines China bosses vanishing as Xi Jinping’s childhood traumas trigger Mao style purge
8 snips
Nov 24, 2025 Joseph Terugian, an associate professor who spent years researching Xi Jinping's father, delves into Xi's complex upbringing and its impact on his leadership style. He discusses how family trauma and historical context shape Xi's purges and his distrust of deputies. Terugian also reveals insights into Xi Zhongxun's radical past, including his early revolutionary acts and pivotal moments during the Cultural Revolution. The conversation explores Xi's authoritarian shift, the evolving Xinjiang policies, and what Western leaders should understand about Xi's ambitions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Purges Reflect Personal And Party History
- Xi Jinping's purges echo his family's history of being purged under Mao and reflect a broader party pattern.
- He removes deputies when they fail ideological loyalty or political consciousness in order to secure control.
Loyalty From Loss And Identity
- Xi Zhongshun remained loyal despite repeated persecution because party membership provided meaning and identity.
- This loyalty dynamic helps explain why party insiders often work to regain trust rather than abandon the CCP.
Young Xi Zhongxun's Radicalization
- Xi Zhongxun joined the Communist Party after being jailed as a teenager for a failed poisoning plot and later credited a poorly written novel with galvanizing his revolutionary zeal.
- He endured family deaths and severe illness but stayed committed to the cause.
