Xi Jinping has created a climate of fear in which his aides and government officials try to keep themselves off his radar by turning up the heat on his perceived enemies, including Japanese anime theme song singers. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Yusuke Hinata and screenshot from CCTV)
China up close
As another Politburo member goes missing, other officials walk on eggshells
KATSUJI NAKAZAWA
December 18, 2025 04:00 JST
