Independent Thinking: AI Plus. Generals purged. China's leaders plan for 2030

At the Fourth Plenum in Beijing, China’s leaders agreed the 15th Five-Year Plan. Our experts discuss what this means for Xi Jinping’s power, ties with the US and China’s growing dominance in AI.

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Published 24 October 2025 — 30 minute listen

China’s ruling Communist Party leadership met in Beijing to frame the next five-year-plan. Amid a trade war with the United States, they set priorities for economic policy and technology, including how to build artificial intelligence into key sectors of society.  

New faces appeared and old ones vanished, with a purge of senior military officials and others as President Xi Jinping sacked some officials he had earlier promoted. As Xi prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump in South Korea, Chatham House senior research fellows Yu Jie and James Kynge join host Bronwen Maddox. 

About Independent Thinking

Independent Thinking is a weekly international affairs podcast hosted by our director Bronwen Maddox, in conversation with leading policymakers, journalists, and Chatham House experts providing insight on the latest international issues.

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