Part 8/11:
By July 2012, Ling Jihua's fortunes shifted drastically. Political discussions at conferences openly scrutinized the scandal, and reports from the New York Times and other outlets started shedding light on the details of the crash and its implications. Ling Jihua, who had once been a rising star in the party, suddenly found himself without allies as he became entangled in a power struggle that saw his faction losing its grip.
Xi Jinping emerged as a dominant figure in this tumultuous political environment, taking advantage of Ling Jihua’s vulnerability to assert his authority. Ling’s reassignment, the collapse of the Youth League’s influence, and Xi's subsequent anti-corruption campaigns marked a crucial turning point in the dynamics of leadership within the Communist Party.