Xi Jinping Purges Even Zhang Youxia! Unprecedented Disappearance of China's Top Military Leadership, '5 of 7 Purged' / The Dangerous Power Struggle Behind a Taiwan Invasion | Professor Kang Jun-young, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Summary

Professor Kang Jun-young discusses the reported purge of senior Chinese military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, arguing that it reflects an internal power struggle but does not threaten Xi Jinping's party control or make a Taiwan invasion imminent. He expects China to keep pressuring Taiwan through blockade and hybrid warfare while retaining Taiwan as a strategic card. On the economy, he sees Chinese equities as supported by concentrated AI and advanced-technology investment, a stronger yuan as Beijing's policy card to attract foreign capital, and persistent weakness in property and consumption.

• Senior Chinese military leaders Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli are reported to be purged or under investigation.
• The Central Military Commission is left with only Xi Jinping and one discipline official, an unprecedented situation.
• Kang says the military purge is an internal power struggle but not a coup path or an imminent Taiwan invasion signal.
• China is likely to keep pressuring Taiwan via blockade and hybrid warfare rather than a full invasion.
• China's property crisis persists, with top developers near default and stimulus constrained.
• Consumption and domestic demand remain weak, raising deflation risk.
• Beijing's policy card may be a stronger yuan to attract foreign capital.
• Kang expects Chinese stocks to hold up because investment is focused on AI and advanced technology.