William Zheng
19 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction
🔮 China poised to restore military presence to top leadership at party congress
Analysts say they expect PLA seats on Politburo and Central Committee left vacant by anti-corruption drive to be filled next year
3-MIN READ3-MIN
Beijing is expected to gradually restore military representation in its top leadership, analysts say, as the Communist Party seeks to strike a delicate balance in its relations with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) amid an anti-corruption drive that has hit the top ranks.
Select Voice
Select Speed
1x
AI-generated voice
🔮 Choice of Mo Gaoyi as Yunnan chief shows how leadership criteria are evolving, analysts say, given his limited local government experience
An analyst said that the move could reflect Beijing’s efforts to broaden the talent selection criteria for some senior roles, allowing specialists to take on important generalist positions.
🔮 China’s next generation of leaders waiting in the wings for more senior roles
A meeting in Beijing this week will lay the groundwork for members of the Communist Party’s seventh generation – or 7G – to take on key roles
Xie Maosong, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University’s National Institute of Strategic Studies, said the party was looking for cadres who had “absolute political loyalty, integrity, fighting spirit, technological or ‘hard science’ expertise, grass-roots experience and hardship resilience”.
🔮 ExclusiveBessent may skip Apec in Hong Kong to focus on Trump’s Shenzhen visit, sources say
US Treasury secretary expected to meet Chinese vice-premier in Shenzhen ahead of summit in November as trade truce extension takes priority
3-MIN READ3-MIN
2
Listen
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may skip a meeting of Apec finance ministers in Hong Kong later this month to focus on preparing for President Donald Trump’s historic visit to Shenzhen in November, sources told the South China Morning Post.
🔮 While it may have been unexpected for some, vacuum flasks usually filled with hot water are an everyday sight in China
Extending this everyday practice to the White House banquet was in tune with the host nation’s own eccentricity.
🔮 China’s top envoy to US hails safeguards from head-of-state diplomacy, as Beijing rolls out severe penalties for non-pharma fentanyl crimes
Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation”, Xie told state news agency Xinhua.
🔮 A look at past Sino-US summits offers insight, with trusted presidential aides and policy expertise expected to take centre stage
2-MIN READ2-MIN
When Xi Jinping sits down with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the Chinese leader’s side of the table will be filled with senior aides bringing extensive policy expertise.
🔮 ExclusiveUS weighs delaying Taiwan arms sales until after Apec and G20 summits
Sources say the decision is expected to be a compromise between Donald Trump, Washington’s China hawks and Taipei’s lobbyists
One source said Trump was considering various options to postpone the signing of Taiwan arms sales, but the final outcome would be a “compromise between him, the China hawks and Taiwan’s lobbyists”.
“President Trump has considered delaying the [Taiwan] arms sales decision till end 2028 or January 2029, that is, towards the end of his current term.
🔮 ExclusiveChina, US may unveil measures to boost military ties when Xi visits Washington
Two sides have been discussing ways to improve communication channels, according to sources familiar with the talks
Another item that is being discussed, and a possible deliverable, is restarting the arms-control talks that were suspended in 2024 over US weapons sales to Taiwan, with the dialogue potentially including military personnel.
Also by William Zheng
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this
article, so these are simply their most recent.
The Aporia
