These Are the Signs Xi Is Losing Power in China

This is the full version of Jan Jekielek’s interview with Gordon Change. The interview was released on Epoch TV on August 16, 2025.

As the Trump administration gives China another 90-day extension on elevated tariffs, Jan Jekielek is sitting down with China analyst Gordon Chang to get his read on U.S.-China trade talks, signs of infighting in Beijing and trouble for Xi Jinping, and the recent stunning destruction of a Chinese coast guard vessel by a Chinese navy warship.

Gordon Chang is the author of "Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America."

CHAPTERS
0:00:00 Xi Jinping's Waning Control
0:00:28 Infighting in Beijing and the Scarborough Shoal Incident
0:03:49 Historical Context of South China Sea Disputes
0:06:05 Chinese Expansionism and Global Ambitions
0:07:58 Leadership Struggles within the Chinese Communist Party
0:12:14 Political Turmoil and Risks of Escalation
0:14:08 US Investment in Chinese Military-Linked Companies
0:17:17 Hong Kong's Loss of Autonomy and US Policy Failures
0:18:22 Western Engagement and Compromises with China
0:21:09 Democracies' Weaknesses in Defending Against Threats
0:22:37 Transnational Repression and Chinese Networks in the US
0:25:44 Border Security and Chinese Espionage Concerns
0:27:39 Examples of CCP Influence and Coercion in America
0:30:01 US Trade Policy and Tariff Extensions
0:33:38 Chinese Interference in US Elections
0:35:41 President Trump's Approach to China and Trade
0:37:41 The Chinese Economy and Risks of Collapse
0:40:49 Is China Too Big to Fail? Possible Futures
0:43:31 Taiwan and Post-Communist Scenarios
0:44:39 US Policy Mistakes in Propping Up the CCP
0:46:15 Final Thoughts: The Need for Robust US Measures