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-Jinping-2018Training-Conference Xi-Jinping-2018Training-Conference](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Xi-Jinping-2018Training-Conference.jpg)
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.
![United-States-joint-military-exercise-e1513712364369 United-States-joint-military-exercise-e1513712364369](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/United-States-joint-military-exercise-e1513712364369.jpg)
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.
![B-1B-e1513540295289 B-1B-e1513540295289](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/B-1B-e1513540295289.jpg)
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-02-e1512327562182 Zhang-Yang-02-e1512327562182](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Zhang-Yang-02-e1512327562182.jpg)
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.
![Army-Transfer-e1512931334359 Army-Transfer-e1512931334359](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Army-Transfer-e1512931334359.jpg)
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.
![army-senior-cadre-training-class-e1512931364648 army-senior-cadre-training-class-e1512931364648](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/army-senior-cadre-training-class-e1512931364648.jpg)
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.
![Chinese-Army Chinese-Army](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Chinese-Army.jpg)
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-e1512366039270 Wang-Yang-Admits-China-North-Korea-at-Odds-e1512366039270](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Wang-Yang-Admits-China-North-Korea-at-Odds-e1512366039270.jpg)
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.
![XiJinping_21-e1511979861156 XiJinping_21-e1511979861156](https://sinoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/XiJinping_21-e1511979861156.jpg)
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.