Xi Visits PLA Airborne Force Amid Speculation of Weakened Grip on Power

The Airborne Corps’ core mission is to ‘liberate Taiwan’ as a rapid reaction unit.

Visitors look at the Chinese military’s J-16D electronic warfare airplane (L) and the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft (R) during the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, on Sept. 29, 2021. Ng Han Guan/AP Photo

News Analysis

Chinese leader Xi Jinping inspected the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Airborne Corps headquarters in Xiaogan, Hubei Province, on Nov. 4.