Beijing’s power struggle is reaching its breaking point. The 4th Plenum is set for October, and the question is no longer if Xi Jinping steps down, but how. Will he cling to power, or be forced out completely? Behind the scenes, four rival factions — Maoist hardliners, reformists, Party preservationists, and the military led by General Zhang Youxia — are locked in a deadly chess match. Rumors swirl, alliances shift, and stakes are high. Among the players, two individuals remain the deciding factors and Xi isn’t one. As Beidaihe ends and the Plenum nears, one truth looms: Xi’s last summer as China’s leader may already be written.
