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Xi’s Purges Reveal His Insecurity

Brahma Chellaney
23 October 2025clock4 Minute Read
President Xi Jinping raises his glass to toasts after speaking at the National Day Reception in Beijing, 30 September, 2025.

To absent friends: President Xi Jinping raises his glass to toasts after speaking at the National Day Reception in Beijing, 30 September, 2025.

From surveilling and repressing Chinese citizens to firing and prosecuting potential rivals, Chinese President Xi Jinping seems able to rule only through fear. But fear is not a foundation for long-term stability, and the more Xi seeks to consolidate power, the more vulnerable his position becomes.

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Brahma Chellaney

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