Part 4/13:
Led by Xi himself and his family members, this camp benefits from his control of the party, state, and military. Xi’s near 13-year rule has established an extensive network of loyalists. Yet, his governance faces mounting problems: economic downturns, domestic unrest, international isolation, and waning public faith. Symbolic shocks to this camp include the mysterious deaths of former Premier Li Keqiang, who died unexpectedly after retirement, and actor Alan Yu, whose also-strange death fueled rumors of internal power struggles and hauntings of Xi’s obsession with longevity. These incidents have shaken loyalty and heightened paranoia inside the inner circle.