Why Xi looked taller, weaker, and outplayed at APEC 2025
Why Xi looked taller, weaker, and outplayed at APEC 2025
Udumbara
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APEC 2025 exposed something rare — a weaker Xi Jinping behind the façade of power. He looked taller than ever, but his influence seemed smaller. From the body-double rumors and his sudden downgrade to a four-star hotel, to Japan’s new prime minister publicly challenging him, Xi’s trip was full of telling details.This episode unpacks how the optics of strength collided with the reality of decline — and why even a brief smile with Trump couldn’t hide the growing cracks in Xi’s rule.
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