As the bankrupt Evergrande Group struggles in an abyss of colossal liability, Chinese news media and online platforms have been inundated by rumors about the property conglomerate’s founder, Xu Jiayin (also known as Hui Ka Yan). As various stories swirl, one thing is certain: like everything in China, Mr. Xu’s fortunes, and those of his company, are tied to those of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Some political observers say Evergrande’s collapse is evidence of a fierce power struggle within the highest echelons of the CCP. Mr. Xu may have been caught between top CCP boss Xi Jinping and former vice president Zeng Qinghong—with whom Mr. Xu has close ties. Mr. Zeng and his supporters have been repeatedly targeted by Mr. Xi’s moves to consolidate power....Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/analysis-evergrande-bankruptcy-linked-to-xis-purge-of-political-rivals-5490251
At least 18 renowned academicians, professors, and researchers have reportedly died within two weeks, adding to a surge of obituaries as the COVID-19 epidemic continues in China. Some of the professors came from the Harbin Institute of Technology, a military-affiliated university, and Peking University, one of the birthplaces of Marxism where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took root. In the face of rising infections from the EG.5 virus, a newly mutated strain of COVID-19, official obituaries use the term “disease” as the cause of death for public figures to cover up COVID death tolls. Meanwhile, doctors in most provinces and cities have treated the affected patients as if they had the flu....
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently visited Russia, and both sides have shown clear intentions for military cooperation. At the same time, a China-Russia-North Korea alliance is developing, which has caused concerns in the international community. Russia and North Korea have recently increased military cooperation. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Sept. 12, accompanied by a large number of senior military officials. Russian President Vladimir Putin also went to Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum. On Sept. 13, the two met at the Vostochny Cosmodrome—a Russian spaceport—and said that the two countries would cooperate in “sensitive” fields....
Mystery surrounding the whereabouts of China’s defense chief just months after he ascended to the post is now fueling questions about his fate and the stability of the Chinese Communist Party. Li Shangfu, whom Chinese leader Xi Jinping handpicked as his defense minister in March, has been missing from public view for 17 days straight, with his last appearance dated on Aug. 29, delivering a keynote address to African defense officials at the security forum in Beijing. A stream of reports citing sources in China and U.S. officials suggest that Mr. Li has been stripped of his responsibilities and is possibly under investigation for corruption, which would make him the fourth senior Chinese official falling from grace less a year into Mr. Xi’s third term....