The official line these days out of China is that it's a stable partner "in an uncertain world." So what to make of the bombshell news out of Beijing? Xi Jinping has purged his top general Zhang Youxia, with accusations against the 75-year-old loyalist that range from corruption to leaking nuclear secrets to the US. We ask about the reasons and the timing, what with the move fuelling speculation that an invasion of Taiwan could now come sooner rather than later.

How soon? And with what pushback from a United States that's offering fresh armament for Taipei but not troop support, and from wary neighbours like Japan, where new nationalist Prime Minister Takaichi Sanai has taken a big gamble by calling a snap election for this coming Sunday.

More broadly, does this purge signal a very new chapter in the longest reign of China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Piera Rocco, Delphine Liou.