Articles by Wen-Hsuan Tsai

Why Xi purges his hand-picked officials

The latest personnel changes during China’s fifth plenum, aimed at officials promoted under Chinese President Xi Jinping, point to a governing logic built on fear, loyalty and the constant search for enemies, as Xi tightens his grip ahead of the 21st Party Congress in 2027. Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai gives his analysis.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

03 Nov 2026

What ‘road warrior’ Xi’s overseas trips reveal about his health

​​​​There has been speculation about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health following his overseas trips. Examining TV footage of Xi’s gait and walking posture in India and the US, Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai offers some observations about possible correlations to the state of the leader’s health.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

02 Oct 2026

Is Cai Qi China’s real number two?

Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi appears to be Chinese President Xi Jinping’s right-hand man, but depending on whether trust or caution is higher in Xi’s calculations, Cai’s fate will be decided at the 21st Party Congress, says Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

04 Aug 2026

Xi’s missing smile: What AI reveals about his meetings with Trump and Putin

Using a combination of state media news footage, artificial intelligence and a facial coding system, Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai finds that body language speaks volumes when he compares Chinese President Xi Jinping’s facial expressions in the Xi-Trump meetings of May 2026 and November 2017, and the Xi-Putin meeting of May 2026.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

08 Jun 2026

Why Takaichi’s loud support leaves Taiwan quietly worried

Japan’s bold “Taiwan contingency” message divided Taipei’s leaders: some cheered, some fretted, but all moved cautiously. The island now faces a high-stakes political and diplomatic tightrope, says Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

11 Dec 2025

Whose victory, whose history? The fight over Taiwan’s 1945 ‘retrocession’

For Beijing, Taiwan’s “retrocession” marks the triumph of China’s wartime struggle and the promise of reunification. For Taipei’s Democratic Progressive Party, it recalls the arrival of yet another foreign regime — not national recovery. Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai examines the issue.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

11 Nov 2025

When every official is a suspect: Why Xi won’t stop purging

The recent “disappearance” of senior Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao has academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai thinking that recent events are likely to be part of a “campaign-style purge” orchestrated by Xi Jinping, aimed at creating an atmosphere of terror within officialdom.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

08 Sep 2025

Has Xi Jinping lost power?

Recent CCP “reforms” or regulatory adjustments do not signal a weakening of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s authority, but rather a strategic move to institutionalise power and ensure smoother governance beyond his tenure. In fact, these moves underscore the high level of prestige that President Xi still commands within the party, says academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

06 Aug 2025

Why UN Resolution 2758 is important for Taiwan’s future

For the Taiwanese government and people, the main purpose of clarifying the content of Resolution 2758 is to deter China from invading Taiwan and to ensure that Taiwan retains de facto independence, says academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

21 Oct 2024

Ageing leaders: A common challenge for China and the US

While China and the US have different systems, the issue of ageing political leaders is common to both. The fact that the Chinese Communist Party’s way of implementing age limits does not apply at the very top makes the Chinese system much less stable than that in Western-style democracies, says academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

19 Sep 2024

A revival of the tribute system? Taiwanese reactions to Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China

While there was much fanfare over former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China in April, Taiwanese academic Wen-Hsuan Tsai observes that Taiwanese sentiment, especially among young Taiwanese, has been mostly lukewarm, with most not tied to old ties.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

30 Apr 2024

Wave of military purges in PLA unlikely to be over

The recent purge of top men from China's military may go on for longer yet, says Taiwanese academic Wen-hsuan Tsai. Whether it is to rein in the military top brass or to root out elements of corruption, the continued purges show that President Xi Jinping's grip on power continues to be strong.

Wen-Hsuan Tsai

27 Feb 2024