Part 2/9:
A wave of dismissals involving top military generals, defense ministers, and key officials from the PLA and strategic defense units has sparked speculation about potential instability. In democratic systems, such purges could signal internal dissent, ideological conflicts, or impending coups. But Ken emphasizes that in China, and particularly within the CCP, these purges serve a different purpose.
Rather than weakening Xi’s authority, these removals are deliberate strategies to eliminate potential rivals, dissenters, or anyone deemed too powerful or autonomous. Historically, authoritarian regimes like Stalin’s Soviet Union, Mao’s China, or North Korea under Kim Jong-un have used purges to reinforce absolute control—not to indicate internal fractures.