By going after the top of the network (Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, who controlled all general officer promotions) rather than nibbling around the edges, Xi executed a 'decapitation move' that terrified everyone in the PLA, since all officers owed their promotions to that network, instantly conferring enormous authority.
causalpending
Speaker
JohnEvidence Quote
“By going after Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, the guys who would have chopped on every general officer promotion, again, it's very risky. I mean, like for for that system, it's like going after made men and living to tell about it”
Created: 6/18/2026, 1:57:49 PM
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