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5 parts Xi, the purges and the succession
Xi, the purges and the succession.© Stéphane Oiry

Deep Dive | China
Xi, the purges and the succession

From one Chinese Communist Party congress to the next, Xi Jinping has carried out lengthy purges to consolidate his power and prepare for an uncertain succession, as his health deteriorates. With the next congress set for late 2027, and amid factional jostling and the return of former leaders to the limelight, the Chinese president is now trying to keep all his options open in an unpredictable world as he prepares to welcome Donald Trump to Beijing.

5 partsXi, the purges and the succession
Xi, the purges and the succession.© Stéphane Oiry

Xi Jinping and the delicate challenge of Donald Trump

The Chinese leader is preparing to welcome Donald Trump to Beijing. That visit goes beyond mere diplomatic concessions and is part of a delicate internal dynamic: the run-up to the 2027 Party congress, where Xi Jinping is focusing his efforts to consolidate his position.

Part 1 Xi, the purges and the succession.
LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 04.05.2026
Part 1 Xi, the purges and the succession.

Xi Jinping faced with former leaders

Former leaders publicly resurfacing, targeted purges and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring: this is how the actions of figures like Wen Jiabao, Hu Jintao and Zhu Rongji are shaping the dynamics of succession and power in the run-up to the 2027 CCP Congress.

Part 2 Xi, the purges and the succession (2/5).
LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 05.05.2026
Part 2 Xi, the purges and the succession (2/5).

Disappearances, restructuring and intimidation: China's anti-corruption crackdown is cranked up

The anti-corruption drive launched nearly 15 years ago has entered a new phase: it is now being extended to the intelligence services, with forced resignations, curtailed operations and budgetary cuts.

Part 3 Xi, the purges and the succession (3/5).
LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 06.05.2026
Part 3 Xi, the purges and the succession (3/5).

Xi Jinping's patient Taiwan reunification strategy

The Chinese Communist Party is readying reunification with Taiwan through a variety of tactics, including military exercises, changes to visa policies, political manoeuvring and economic pressure. The island's return to the motherland may be seen as inevitable, but Beijing is less set on a deadline.

Part 4 Xi, the purges and the succession (4/5).
LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 07.05.2026
Part 4 Xi, the purges and the succession (4/5).

Xi Jinping: a leader shaped by his troubled past

To understand Xi Jinping, one must look at his personal history: a childhood marked by purges, the legacy of a reformist father forced into exile, family tensions and financial secrets. All factors that have shaped a leader who is both an ideologue and a pragmatist.

Part 5 Xi, the purges and the succession (5/5).
LogoSubscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 08.05.2026
Part 5 Xi, the purges and the succession (5/5).

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