Days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, The Wall Street Journal reported that he needed unusual rest breaks at the White House. Now, the Chinese Communist Party’s top leadership is meeting for its Fifth Plenum, from Oct. 26–29, and the question of who comes after Xi is out in the open.

China expert Alex Liao explains why he believes the leak about Xi’s health came from Beijing, how Xi came to rule more like a Ming emperor than a modern party leader, and why China’s military has gone silent since Xi moved against General Zhang Youxia.

Mike Sun, who spent decades advising Americans doing business in China, describes how Xi broke the rules that once kept elite politics stable, and why his successor may have to do the same just to survive.

Also in this episode: why Beijing ordered 25 of its 40 golf courses to close, according to documents shared with China Watch; what to watch for when the plenum ends; and who could be next in line, from Premier Li Qiang to the “deposed crown prince” Hu Chunhua.

Views expressed in this episode are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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Terri Wu is a Washington-based freelance reporter for The Epoch Times covering education and China-related issues. Send tips to terri.wu@epochtimes.com.

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