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Gordon Chang Highlights Turmoil at the Top of the Chinese Communist Party


Top Points

  • Gordon Chang warned of instability within China’s top leadership: He said unexplained removals of military officials and growing signs of internal dissent suggest that Xi Jinping’s control over the Chinese Communist Party may be weakening.

  • Economic and political pressures are fueling the turmoil: Chang linked the internal unrest to China’s slowing economy, trade tensions with the U.S., and dissatisfaction among party and military elites over Xi’s policies.

  • The leadership crisis could reshape China’s direction and global relations: He cautioned that if factional divisions deepen, it could lead to sudden policy shifts or leadership changes, affecting both China’s domestic stability and its relationship with the U.S. and the wider world.


Full Report:

Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute and longtime analyst of Chinese politics, has warned of escalating instability within the Chinese Communist Party’s senior leadership. He argues that multiple indicators suggest a significant departure from previously stable dominance by Xi Jinping and a deepening crisis in party control.


Signs of Factional Stress and Leadership Uncertainty

According to Chang, several developments point to internal stress. These include unexplained disappearances or dismissals of senior military officers, unusual commentary by state media praising “collective leadership,” and signs that Xi may be losing grip over the military branch of the party. Chang argues that these trends reflect elite discontent within the CCP at a time when the economy is under strain and international pressures are mounting.


Economic and External Pressures Fueling the Crisis

Chang links the internal turmoil to mounting economic difficulties in China, such as slower growth, export headwinds, and trade tensions with the United States, as well as growing dissatisfaction among party, military, and industrial elites. He says that Xi’s policies have heightened risk and created vulnerabilities in supply chains and defense sectors. Chang suggests that this combination of economic weakness and leadership tension is placing the party in what he calls “unprecedented” territory.


What It Could Mean for China and the Region

Chang cautions that if the turmoil within the party deepens, it may lead to abrupt shifts in China’s domestic and foreign policy direction. He says observers should watch for leadership changes, policy instability, or signals that Xi might be moved aside or lose meaningful authority. The implications, in Chang’s view, are significant for both U.S. strategy toward China and global geopolitical stability.


References


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