US Navy War College Releases National Security Lectures, Part 1

During Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States, the U.S. Navy War College publishes “Toppling Trees, Flourishing Forest: Why the PLA Navy Advances Despite Corruption-Related Removals,” the first lecture of its National Security Lecture Series on the morning of Sept. 25.

The lecture assesses China’s military trajectory through measurable outputs and operational behavior rather than leadership turnover alone. Its central conclusion is that corruption and repeated removals represent important vulnerabilities, but should not be assumed to derail China’s military buildup.