Politics Watch: Decoding the Convening of Enlarged Military Meetings
◎ Xi is likely seeking to strengthen his control over the military in a crucial period.
MILITARY
Xi Displays Control Over Military at Mass Mobilization Drill
◎ Xi may be demonstrating that he is in control over the military by speaking at the Jan. 3 mobilization.
Increasing Odds of War on Korean Peninsula Could Inspire Internal Action Against Kim Jong Un
◎ Kim Jong Un purging his former top advisor could unsettle his other senior officials.
Retired Chinese General Says US and North Korea at Risk of Clashing in the Next 3 Months
◎ Wang Hongguang’s assessment suggests that China is getting prepared for American intervention in North Korea.
Zhang Yang’s Suicide Raises Four Troubling Questions
◎ The state explanation for Zhang’s death becomes unpersuasive in considering the lack of follow up statements from top military leaders and other intelligence and overseas reports.
Xi Sends Interior Division-level Military Officers to the Borders for ‘Training’
◎ Xi could have implemented the border-interior swap move as a precautionary measure against potential military coups.
After Zhang Yang’s Suicide, Senior Military Leaders Attend Study Session in Beijing
◎ China’s top military brass was very likely summoned to Beijing for the study seminar to declare their loyalty to Xi Jinping following the death of Zhang Yang.
Troops from Northern Theater Command Filmed Marching in Streets
◎ Given the very tense North Korean situation, Chinese citizens along the Sino-North Korean border are paying closer attention to military activity in their area.
Wang Yang Admits China, North Korea at Odds
◎ From China’s perspective, its number one priority is neutralizing the nuclear facilities near the Chinese border to prevent the possibility of a nuclear detonation.
Xi’s Anti-corruption Drive is Deadlier for Generals than the Sino-Japanese War
◎ The spike in senior military official suicides suggests that they are afraid of being punished for their past offenses.