In Beijing, Xi and Trump agree to ‘constructive strategic stability’ in US-China relations
CCP propaganda has used the Trump trip to subtly weave the narrative of a U.S. “change of heart” and a PRC “victory” in major power competition.
POLITICS

Trump Hints at Xi’s Motive for Sending Envoy to North Korea
◎ Based on our research, Song Tao may be a Xi protégé.

Why Xi Delayed Sending Envoy to North Korea for 19th Congress Briefing
◎ Song’s trip to North Korea comes after the meeting between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Xi’s New Propaganda Chief Begins Corruption Purge
◎ The arrest of Liu Beixian sends a signal that Xi is closing in on the upper echelons of the propaganda apparatus.

Reports of Suicides by Chinese Security Official Surface After 19th Congress
◎ The Jiang Zemin faction has long controlled the PLAC and the Chinese Communist Party’s domestic security apparatus.

China’s Anti-corruption Agency Takes Aim at Collective Leadership Model of Xi’s Rival
◎ The CCDI choice of the phrase “nine dragons ruling the waters” appears to be an oblique reference to the changes Jiang Zemin made to the Politburo Standing Committee to control Hu Jintao after he took office in 2002.

Three Key Takeaways from Trump’s China Trip
◎ Here are three key takeaways from Trump’s trip to China.

United Front Work Department Comes Under Xi’s Direction
◎ You Quan and Li Keqiang had a close working relationship.

Appointment of New Central Party School Head Diminishes its Status
◎ We believe that Xi is in fact gradually shifting the Party’s power to the state.

China’s Powerful Domestic Security Apparatus Set to be Further Weakened
◎ The new leading group for advancing law-based governance will eventually render the PLAC redundant as the rule of law and constitutionalism starts taking priority over Party rule.
