Power, Paranoia, and the People's Liberation Army

The podcast explores the state of China expertise in the U.S. and the implications of recent purges within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It questions whether the U.S. is adequately training and incentivizing China experts, particularly given current restrictions on access to China. The discussion highlights the significance of the recent investigation of senior generals, including Zhang Youxia, as indicative of Xi Jinping's broader anti-corruption campaign and his desire to consolidate control over the military. Panelists debate whether these purges signal a genuine effort to improve military readiness or reflect Xi's paranoia and dissatisfaction with the current leadership. The conversation also touches on the potential impact of these changes on China's military capabilities and its approach to Taiwan, as well as the implications of Xi's close relationship with Putin for his foreign policy strategy.