Xi Jinping and the Crisis of Confidence in the Chinese Military

On paper, the Chinese military has never been as strong as it is now. New aircraft carriers are continuously being launched. Hypersonic missiles are being showcased. Drones, artificial intelligence, and combat robots are part of China's grand ambition to build the most modern armed forces in the world.

However, behind the grand military parade, there is unease at the center of power in China: President Xi Jinping seems to be increasingly struggling to trust the generals he himself appointed.