[ifinnegan]

I get your point and agree generally.

But I think of China as a banana republic as the person in charge is determined by the backing of the military.

If the PLA decided they would back someone other than Xi, Xi would be out.

[RoosterRedux]

It's complicated, but Xi has installed his people (very loyal to him) in the CCP Central Military Commission (Xi is chairman BTW), in the military leadership itself, and throughout the CCP.

He's got a lock on it.

China isn't politically unstable in any way. The U.S. for the last 200 years is more of a banana republic than China is right now.