IIA Pacific Report
(July 2025 No.28) IIA Pacific Report
Author
admiia
Date
2025-08-01
Views
1557
The Institute of International Affairs has released the new Pacific Report No. 28.
In this issue, Professor Young Nam Cho of Seoul National University contributed an article titled <“How should we view the rumors of Xi Jinping’s downfall?”>.
Professor Cho explains that the fundamental background behind the emergence of the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor” lies in the uncertainty surrounding power succession.
Claims that assess the stability of Chinese politics based solely on the fate of an individual leader—such as the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor”—are highly likely to be flawed.
If fake news and baseless rumors like the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor” continue to gain traction and become widely accepted as truth each time they emerge, it becomes virtually impossible to even consider economic engagement or political cooperation with China.
Professor Cho comments that though belated, it is high time to make a genuine effort to “understand China properly.” The first step in this process must be to recognize and reject the falsehoods and fallacies embedded in such rumors and fake news.
In this issue, Professor Young Nam Cho of Seoul National University contributed an article titled <“How should we view the rumors of Xi Jinping’s downfall?”>.
Professor Cho explains that the fundamental background behind the emergence of the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor” lies in the uncertainty surrounding power succession.
Claims that assess the stability of Chinese politics based solely on the fate of an individual leader—such as the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor”—are highly likely to be flawed.
If fake news and baseless rumors like the “Xi Jinping downfall rumor” continue to gain traction and become widely accepted as truth each time they emerge, it becomes virtually impossible to even consider economic engagement or political cooperation with China.
Professor Cho comments that though belated, it is high time to make a genuine effort to “understand China properly.” The first step in this process must be to recognize and reject the falsehoods and fallacies embedded in such rumors and fake news.
