Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

Read this article in our Deep Dive:
Xi Jinping's military purges

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 2. © Stéphane Oiry

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 2/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military. Part two focuses on the most powerful strategic unit in Beijing's military. [...]

Published on 02/09/2025 at 04:00 GMT Reading time 6 minutes

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Intelligence Online relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

China
China's Central Military Commission gets complete overhaul

The first post-plenum propaganda meeting convened last week by the new vice-chairmen of the commission reveals a landscape undergoing a complete overhaul: ongoing purges, frozen appointments and an internal power struggle in which Xi Jinping remains the silent arbiter.

Subscribers only Defence 17.11.2025

Zhang Youxia in Beijing on 4 March 2025.

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

The European Union's call for more Hong Kong students to come and study is a tactical boon for the Chinese Communist Party's politburo. With Xi Jinping insisting on reasserting his United Front, the influx of students offers a low-cost way to test influence tactics.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 13.11.2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping, 12 November 2025, Beijing.

The Agencies' Gazette
Paris Club's Madrid meet, fired NSA ace joins CFR, cut in French intel's 2026 budget, China's retrospective scrutiny turns to PLA

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

SpainEuropean spy chiefs hold Madrid get-together

United StatesSacked by NSA, artificial intelligence whiz bounces back at think tank

FranceSpecial funding for intelligence down for 2026 budget

ChinaAfter Rocket Force, retrospective checks for PLA

Subscribers only 20.10.2025

Spotlight, Deep Dive | China
China's distant dream of a 'world-class' military

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 5/5 – Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping China's military. This final episode focuses on the mistrust rife among senior officers and the dearth of training for new recruits to the People's Liberation Army.

Subscribers only Defence 05.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 5.

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 4/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Subscribers only Defence 04.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army, Episode 4.

Deep Dive | China
Xi loyalists also caught up in China military restructuring

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 3/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Subscribers only Defence 03.09.2025

Deep Dive | China
Xi Jinping's military purges

With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military. [...]

Subscribers only Defence 01.09.2025

Xi Jinping and the Great Purge of the People's Liberation Army.

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

Xi Jinping's military purges, part 1/5 – With a new wave of purges targeting factions close to the president, Intelligence Online has conducted a months-long investigation into the vast anti-corruption campaign sweeping the country's military.

Free access Defence 01.09.2025

The Agencies' Gazette
French prison intelligence, Washington strengthens stance on Beijing, Secrecy at Pakistan's Paris embassy, Death penalty for Chinese officer, DGSE

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceNew director for prison intelligence service

United StatesWhite House reinforces stance on China

FranceThe Pakistan embassy in Paris employee who knew too much

ChinaHigh-ranking PLA officer sentenced to death for spying for the US

FranceDGSE combat swimmers' ammunition bunker to grow

Subscribers only 31.03.2025

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Now deputy executive director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Shaanxi-born General He Hongjun is keeping a watchful eye on the anti-corruption campaign within the Chinese military. He relies on networks in Russia and the US built up with the help of the United Front.

Subscribers only Operations 22.07.2024

Xi Jinping presents a certificate of order to promote He Hongjun, deputy executive director of the CMC's political work department, to the rank of general.

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

China
China's Central Military Commission gets complete overhaul

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

The Agencies' Gazette
Paris Club's Madrid meet, fired NSA ace joins CFR, cut in French intel's 2026 budget, China's retrospective scrutiny turns to PLA

SpainEuropean spy chiefs hold Madrid get-together

United StatesSacked by NSA, artificial intelligence whiz bounces back at think tank

FranceSpecial funding for intelligence down for 2026 budget

ChinaAfter Rocket Force, retrospective checks for PLA

Spotlight, Deep Dive | China
China's distant dream of a 'world-class' military

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

Deep Dive | China
Xi loyalists also caught up in China military restructuring

Deep Dive | China
Xi Jinping's military purges

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

The Agencies' Gazette
French prison intelligence, Washington strengthens stance on Beijing, Secrecy at Pakistan's Paris embassy, Death penalty for Chinese officer, DGSE

FranceNew director for prison intelligence service

United StatesWhite House reinforces stance on China

FranceThe Pakistan embassy in Paris employee who knew too much

ChinaHigh-ranking PLA officer sentenced to death for spying for the US

FranceDGSE combat swimmers' ammunition bunker to grow

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China, United States
Beijing purges, part 1: Qin Gang affair triggers diaspora distrust

China
Global intelligence abuzz over missing Chinese foreign minister

China
New factions: Xi Jinping's right-hand man, Cai Qi, heads powerful Fujian clique

Related topics to this article

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Benjamin Netanyahu

CIA

FSB

Houthis

DGSE

Deep Dive | China Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

China China's Central Military Commission gets complete overhaul

China, Europe China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

The Agencies' Gazette Paris Club's Madrid meet, fired NSA ace joins CFR, cut in French intel's 2026 budget, China's retrospective scrutiny turns to PLA

SpainEuropean spy chiefs hold Madrid get-together

United StatesSacked by NSA, artificial intelligence whiz bounces back at think tank

FranceSpecial funding for intelligence down for 2026 budget

ChinaAfter Rocket Force, retrospective checks for PLA

Spotlight, Deep Dive | China China's distant dream of a 'world-class' military

Deep Dive | China PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

Deep Dive | China Xi loyalists also caught up in China military restructuring

Deep Dive | China Xi Jinping's military purges

Deep Dive | China People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

The Agencies' Gazette French prison intelligence, Washington strengthens stance on Beijing, Secrecy at Pakistan's Paris embassy, Death penalty for Chinese officer, DGSE

FranceNew director for prison intelligence service

United StatesWhite House reinforces stance on China

FranceThe Pakistan embassy in Paris employee who knew too much

ChinaHigh-ranking PLA officer sentenced to death for spying for the US

FranceDGSE combat swimmers' ammunition bunker to grow

Spotlight | China He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China, United States Beijing purges, part 1: Qin Gang affair triggers diaspora distrust

China Global intelligence abuzz over missing Chinese foreign minister

China New factions: Xi Jinping's right-hand man, Cai Qi, heads powerful Fujian clique

Related topics to this article

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Deep Dive | China
Betrayals and power struggles rock China's nuclear force

China
China's Central Military Commission gets complete overhaul

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

The Agencies' Gazette
Paris Club's Madrid meet, fired NSA ace joins CFR, cut in French intel's 2026 budget, China's retrospective scrutiny turns to PLA

Spotlight, Deep Dive | China
China's distant dream of a 'world-class' military

Deep Dive | China
PLA purges hamper Beijing's strategy on Taiwan

Deep Dive | China
Xi loyalists also caught up in China military restructuring

Deep Dive | China
Xi Jinping's military purges

Deep Dive | China
People's Liberation Army faces debilitating purges

The Agencies' Gazette
French prison intelligence, Washington strengthens stance on Beijing, Secrecy at Pakistan's Paris embassy, Death penalty for Chinese officer, DGSE

Spotlight | China
He Hongjun, the spymaster behind the arrests of defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Spotlight | China, United States
Beijing purges, part 1: Qin Gang affair triggers diaspora distrust

China
Global intelligence abuzz over missing Chinese foreign minister

China
New factions: Xi Jinping's right-hand man, Cai Qi, heads powerful Fujian clique