Part 11/13:
An unprecedented purge of nine generals loyal to Xi was announced by the Ministry of Defense, marking a significant internal shake-up. Strangely, state broadcasters like CCTV did not mention the purge explicitly, instead sticking to bland reports on Xi’s policy reviews.
On the night before the plenary, a lengthy editorial appeared, theatrically emphasizing Xi’s decisive role, yet it also contained veiled hints at limits on his power. Some analysts interpret this as a signal that Xi’s influence is waning; others see it as propaganda trying to reinforce his authority amid internal chaos.