After the downfall of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, Xi Jinping hasn’t left Beijing for three months — breaking his New Year tradition of visiting frontline troops. Instead, he inspected the PLA by video from a heavily guarded hall, surrounded by only two senior figures. The empty optics and strange seating hinted at fear at the top. Then came a shock: the high-profile return of a once “politically radioactive” military seductress on CCTV platforms. This episode unpacks the body language, the staged visuals, and why her comeback sends a message Xi can’t ignore.
