Shanghai ‘Zero-COVID’ Shutdown Threatens Economic Slowdown, Political Trouble
The Shanghai lockdown and those in other areas are starting to weigh on the Chinese economy.
POLITICS

Fugitive Billionaire Guo’s Claims Could Topple Politburo Standing Committee Member
◎ Guo Wengui began actively making sensational and largely unverifiable claims about CCP corruption on social media since January.

Xinjiang CCP Secretary’s Effort to Flatter Xi Could Be Career Roadblock
◎ Chen Quanguo appears to be dialing up propaganda efforts with an eye on the 19th Party Congress.

Xi Snubs North Korean Foreign Minister Before Meeting Tillerson
◎ Xi’s contrasting treatment of Tillerson and Ri is consistent with his foreign policy stance.

Deciphering Sun Zhengcai’s Charges
◎ Xi hastily expelling Sun with only weeks to go before the 19th Party Congress is a sign that his power over the CCP still isn’t secure.

A Warning About Fugitive Chinese Tycoon Guo Wengui
◎ Guo’s accusations and claims against CCP officials are largely contradictory, unverifiable, and/or proven false.

Xi ‘Successor’ Sun Zhengcai Turns Out to be Bo Xilai 2.0
◎ The Xi leadership’s recent charge against Sun Zhengcai corroborates SinoInsider’s intel that Sun played a leading role in a failed coup against Xi.

19th Congress Prediction: Second in Charge at Propaganda Dept to Replace Top
◎ Central Propaganda Department head Liu Qibao will likely be replaced by his executive deputy director at the 19th Party Congress on Oct. 18.

Wang’s Meet with 3rd International VIP Signals Likelihood of Staying in Power
◎ Wang’s meetings with Men, Steve Bannon, and Lee Hsien Loong were likely arranged by Xi Jinping to show those inside and outside of China that the alliance between him and Wang is still strong.

Hong Kong Media Confirm SinoInsider Analysis: Top Chinese Generals Plotted Coup Against Xi
◎ We wrote about Fang Fenghui’s involvement in a possible coup on Sept. 17. Two generals in China’s top military body planned to oust Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a military coup, according to a Hong Kong media report on Sept. 27. The two, former Chief of Joint Staff Fang Fenghui and former Political Work Department