NYT: Xi Jinping no longer trusts his army generals
Xi Jinping spent 13 years building a military capable of rivaling the American one. But the stronger the Chinese military became, the less he trusted his generals, according to The New York Times. The publication notes that this fact casts doubt on China's ability to stand up to the United States.
The purges China's leader has carried out against the military elite were evident at a recent legislative session. A year earlier, state television footage showed about 40 generals in the hall. This time, there were only a few.
– NYT points out.
The author of the article adds that Xi Jinping made it clear that the upheavals comparable to those of the Mao era are not yet over.
As the publication notes, the crisis threatens one of Xi's greatest achievements: transforming the Chinese military into a formidable force with new aircraft carriers, hypersonic missiles, and an expanding nuclear arsenal. This is happening against the backdrop of China's intensifying rivalry with the United States.
China's military readiness could be undermined for years to come by this purge. What once looked like a limited crackdown on corruption has escalated into the mass dismissal of dozens of high-ranking officers, culminating earlier this year with the fall of Zhang Youxia, the top commander of China's armed forces and a close confidant of Xi.
- says the publication.
Expanding on its argument, the newspaper notes that the corruption targeted by the Chinese leader is real. But Xi's internal speeches, previously unreported, reveal another factor: a leader who sees any sign of disobedience as the beginning of a new era. political threats to their power.
Analysts say he has become convinced that the commanders Xi Jinping chose to modernize the military can no longer be trusted, their loyalty and effectiveness undermined by corruption and nepotism.
These upheavals, the publication writes, also revealed tensions between Xi's two main objectives: preparing for military action and ensuring loyalty.
Xi Jinping's rule is gradually entering its late stages. At this stage, his political calculations are shifting, and he is increasingly concerned about members of his inner circle.
– the newspaper concludes.
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