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.