Here is what happened after Xi Jinping visit to India.
Friday the 19th however, the Chinese troops were holding ground. They eventually retreated – but dispatched a small group of 35 men to pitch tents: when this was reported in Delhi, whatever confidence was subsiding in the visiting party evaporated.
Observers were at a loss to explain. The faux pas was deliberate, but to what aim? Xi was losing all what he had come to fetch. Modi as well. Both men’s objectives had been derailed. Who might be those opponents of a Sino-Chinese rapprochement?
Some of them were obviously within the Chinese high command. They might also be in the regime’s political circles, high cadres trying to weaken Xi Jinping. Since his accession to power in October 2012, Xi has started a relentless anti-corruption campaign, that has already felled thousands of heads among cadres, among which dozens at ministerial level.
Opposition could also have been reinforced from the Indian side. An Indian analyst suspects military traders in armament imports, India being now the world number one on this market.
Whoever those behind the curtain, Xi Jinping back in Beijing took two actions, both hinting at his own role as a victim in this “treacherous stroke”, and at his exasperation.
First came the “authorized” rumors of
impending elevations for two generals faithful to Xi Jinping: Liu Yuan, and Zhang Youxia, deemed to become vice president of the Central Military Commission and head of the military’s discipline commission. This last organ is taking care of corruption within the PLA, and of dereliction of duty –the misbehavior likely to have occurred in Ladakh during Xi’s Indian visit.
Second, on Sunday the 21st, the commanders of each arm were gathered in Beijing to address “inefficiencies” in the chain of military command. Mainly, they were instructed to ensure that “
all PLA forces follow the instructions of President Xi.” This last meeting was followed the day after by a second conference, where the Party Secretary delivered the mission to “
develop new types of command”, for more efficiency but also for reliability and faithfulness to the core leader.
Who Sabotaged Chinese President Xi Jinping's India Visit?