Zhang Youxia (left) is the rare "red aristocrat" who belongs to the same generation as Xi Jinping not to have disappeared from a key post in Xi's administration. He is also the highest-ranking general in the People's Liberation Army. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Yusuke Hinata)

Analysis: Xi Jinping reaches out to his fellow 'red aristocrats'

A princeling leads troika of top generals supporting the supreme leader

KATSUJI NAKAZAWA

June 19, 2025 04:00 JST

Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff and editorial writer at Nikkei. He spent seven years in China as a correspondent and later as China bureau chief. He was the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize.

Xi Jinping last week attended a big event along with many of his fellow "red aristocrats" who have propped up his administration. For the supreme leader who has concentrated most of China's political power in his own hands, it was an opportunity to call for unity and support.