China's top general purged in power struggle raises fears for Taiwan.
The fall of China's second-in-command, General Zhang Youxia, has sent shockwaves through the country's military leadership, casting a shadow over plans to reunite Taiwan with China. Zhang, 75, was a close ally of President Xi Jinping and had long been considered "untouchable" within the military. His sudden removal from power is being seen as a clear warning to others of the importance of loyalty to Xi.
Zhang's purging comes as Beijing continues its aggressive military posturing towards Taiwan, with live-fire drills and aircraft sorties becoming increasingly frequent. This has raised fears among Taiwanese officials that China may be planning an invasion. The island's defense minister, Wellington Koo, said he was watching the situation "abnormally" closely, noting that China will not invade unless it is certain of victory.
The purge has also heightened concerns about the military's readiness to tackle Taiwan. Zhang was a seasoned commander with decades of experience in combat, having fought against Vietnam in 1979. His removal may leave Xi vulnerable to criticism from his own generals about the wisdom of pursuing an invasion.
"This is a reminder coming directly from President Xi Jinping, that political loyalty stands well before combat readiness," said Alessandro Arduino, an expert at the Royal United Services Institute. "Political disloyalty is a cardinal sin inside the party. And the message is clear: it's a political accusation... I think the message is extremely clear, no one is safe."
Xi has long harbored ambitions of reuniting Taiwan with China, and his military regularly launches drills around the island to demonstrate its resolve. But Zhang's removal may indicate that Xi is willing to sacrifice military experience for loyalty.
The purge marks a new low point in Xi's anti-corruption drive, which has seen many high-ranking officials fall from favor. The move also reinforces Xi's grip on power and his ability to dictate policy through fear rather than persuasion.
Taiwan, meanwhile, remains on high alert as Beijing's intentions become increasingly opaque. With Zhang gone, there is no general who can advise against an invasion if Xi orders it. "Xi will not order an invasion unless he is certain of victory," said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London.
The fall of China's second-in-command, General Zhang Youxia, has sent shockwaves through the country's military leadership, casting a shadow over plans to reunite Taiwan with China. Zhang, 75, was a close ally of President Xi Jinping and had long been considered "untouchable" within the military. His sudden removal from power is being seen as a clear warning to others of the importance of loyalty to Xi.
Zhang's purging comes as Beijing continues its aggressive military posturing towards Taiwan, with live-fire drills and aircraft sorties becoming increasingly frequent. This has raised fears among Taiwanese officials that China may be planning an invasion. The island's defense minister, Wellington Koo, said he was watching the situation "abnormally" closely, noting that China will not invade unless it is certain of victory.
The purge has also heightened concerns about the military's readiness to tackle Taiwan. Zhang was a seasoned commander with decades of experience in combat, having fought against Vietnam in 1979. His removal may leave Xi vulnerable to criticism from his own generals about the wisdom of pursuing an invasion.
"This is a reminder coming directly from President Xi Jinping, that political loyalty stands well before combat readiness," said Alessandro Arduino, an expert at the Royal United Services Institute. "Political disloyalty is a cardinal sin inside the party. And the message is clear: it's a political accusation... I think the message is extremely clear, no one is safe."
Xi has long harbored ambitions of reuniting Taiwan with China, and his military regularly launches drills around the island to demonstrate its resolve. But Zhang's removal may indicate that Xi is willing to sacrifice military experience for loyalty.
The purge marks a new low point in Xi's anti-corruption drive, which has seen many high-ranking officials fall from favor. The move also reinforces Xi's grip on power and his ability to dictate policy through fear rather than persuasion.
Taiwan, meanwhile, remains on high alert as Beijing's intentions become increasingly opaque. With Zhang gone, there is no general who can advise against an invasion if Xi orders it. "Xi will not order an invasion unless he is certain of victory," said Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London.
... I mean, you can tell when someone's getting a bit too powerful in their own country. This General Zhang guy was like a rockstar within the Chinese military, but now he's gone and Xi Jinping is sending a clear message: loyalty wins over experience 
. It's scary because it sets a bad precedent for what happens to people who don't play ball. I'm not surprised China's been doing more live-fire drills around Taiwan though, they're just trying to muscle them into submission 
. But you can't invade someone and expect a clear win without some major losses... that's just basic strategy 
. This is getting too intense for my liking, hope Taiwan stays on high alert 
.
. But then again, maybe this is a good thing? I mean, if General Zhang was being loyal to Xi without questioning his plans, that's not exactly reassuring for Taiwan... BUT! Maybe this will make the Chinese military think twice before invading. And who knows, maybe this is just a strategic move by Xi to show off his power 
. On the other hand, it does seem like a pretty intense purge... but what's done is done 
. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how all this plays out 
. One thing's for sure, though - Taiwan is definitely on high alert 
!
. If Beijing is already doing live-fire drills and aircraft sorties, it's not hard to imagine an invasion scenario unfolding 
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. His anti-corruption drive has seen many high-ranking officials fall from favor, but I wonder who else might be next on the chopping block 
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. I mean, what's the point of having a president if they can't enforce their will? And let's be real, Xi Jinping is just trying to modernize his country and bring stability. The whole "invasion" thing is just a smokescreen. Taiwanese officials are just whining because they're not ready for greatness 
. Zhang's removal was long overdue, if you ask me 
. It's about time someone with experience like him got knocked off the pedestal of power. And yeah, let's be real, loyalty should always come first in a organization... even if it means sacrificing a few innocent lives 
.
... what does it really mean? Is it just a classic example of the brutal game of power struggles in China's military elite? Or is this a canary in the coal mine, warning us about the dangers of blind loyalty to a leader who prioritizes his own ambition over the welfare of his people?
this is so worrying 
i hope someone talks to xi about this before things get out of hand 
. but did that make him untouchable? um, nope 
.