Chairman Xi Jinping's once golden touch now seems to be crumbling as he faces challenges on multiple fronts, including fraught relations with maritime neighbors, a tanking economy, and intense competition with the USA. A report from the US intelligence community has also revealed severe corruption within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), affecting its combat readiness. Xi's purge of adversaries within the Chinese Communist Party has also backfired as top-level ministers have disappeared and his own acolytes have proven unreliable and greedy. Xi's handling of international relations has turned friends into enemies, with tensions escalating in the South China Sea and a repressive and paranoid state emerging under his rule. China's economy is struggling, and Xi's heavy-handed approach to governance has led to a significant outflow of capital from the country. The situation has led to concerns about China's future governance, with Xi doubling down on ideological indoctrination and feeling pressure from within the CCP. There are also questions about China's alliances, as significant quantities of Chinese small arms have appeared in the hands of Hamas in Gaza, raising concerns about China's role in global conflicts and its alignment with countries like Russia and North Korea. Overall, Xi's leadership is increasingly being questioned, and the challenges facing China under his rule are mounting. Whether Xi's position as 'ruler for life' will be threatened remains to be seen, but the implications for China's economy and its relations with key adversaries are significant.