India, Oct. 26 -- A former citizen-journalist from mainland China now based in the United States, Zhao is regarded as an independent source on elite politics within the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

His reports - from the purges in Rocket Force to the fall of Defence Minister Li Shangfu - have often preceded state-media confirmation by months.

In December 2023, Zhao coined the term "Great Purge" on social media to describe the arrest of Li Shangfu and the sweeping cleanup within China's military-political apparatus, even as prevailing commentary framed it as "Xi losing control of the military," "factional infighting," or "an imminent coup."

Now, as Xinhua published in its 20 October 2025 editorial - just before the Fourth plenary ses...