Xi Jinping has increased his term of office to three terms, why is his power increasingly unchallenged?
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Jan 17, 2023, 11:11:06 AM1/17/23
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Few would have predicted that Xi Jinping would become China's most powerful leader in decades. However, Xi is now poised to secure his third term in his historic reign.
Xi Jinping announced his third term as China's leader on Sunday (23/10).
His speeches provided important clues about the future direction of his leadership. Previously, there were fears that China would shut itself off from the world economy.
But, Xi said, "China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China."
"After more than 40 years of relentless pursuit of reform and opening up, we have created two miracles - rapid economic development and long-term social stability."
China teaches Xi Jinping's ideology in schools, why is his thinking an obligation to study?
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A decade ago, little was known about Xi, apart from the fact that he was a "prince" because his father was one of China's revolutionary leaders.
That bloodline helped him win the support of party elders, who were instrumental in bringing him to power over the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as these leaders often retain political influence even after retirement.
“Prior to his appointment, Xi Jinping was seen as someone who could compromise with everyone,” said Joseph Fewsmith, an expert on elite Chinese politics at Boston University.
But 10 years later, Xi's authority seems unquestioned, and his strength is unmatched. How did it happen?
'Political power grows from the barrel of a gun'
Mao Zedong, the founding father of Communist China, once said, “Political power grows from the barrel of a gun.”
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Mao ensured that it was the party that controlled the People's Liberation Army (TPR), not the state. Since then, the CCP leader has also become chairman of the Central Military Commission (KMP).
Xi was luckier than his predecessor, Hu Jintao, because he immediately became chairman of the KMP.
He also wasted no time and quickly eliminated the opposition within the armed forces.
The most shocking episodes occurred in 2014 and 2015, when former KMP deputy chairman Xu Caihou and former TPR general Guo Boxiong were accused of corruption.
"They were retired when the allegations surfaced, but Xi's ability to target them diminishes former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's longstanding influence in the PLA," said Joel Wuthnow, a senior fellow at the Pentagon-funded National Defense University.
"It also sends a strong signal to serving military officers that no one resisting Xi's control is immune from harm," he added.
Illustration of Chinese President Xi Jinping with the military
In 2015, Xi also overhauled the military structure. He closed four military headquarters – staff, political, logistics and weapons – then replaced them with 15 smaller bodies.
The new structure allows the KMP to command directly the various branches of the military, even to the point that financial auditors must report directly to the KMP, explained Wuthnow.
These things became the kind of insistence on absolute loyalty to Xi, which he still insists on today.
Last month, the People's Liberation Army Daily - the country's official military newspaper - published an article stressing that the KMP was in overall command.
"That message helps counteract any tendency that may develop in the military to build loyalty to senior TPR leaders who may one day oppose Xi," said Timothy Health, senior fellow in international defense at US think tank RAND.
“Loyalty to the party means the PLA is expected to carry out every order to keep the party, and Xi in particular, in power.”
Loyalty comes first
After securing the “gun barrel”, it is important to ensure that the “knife”, that is, the internal security apparatus, is under full control.
Two years after Xi came to power, authorities confirmed the arrest of a so-called "tiger", former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, for corruption.
Zhou was closely related to Bo Xilai, another "prince" who was Xi's rival.
The investigation sparked political shock by undermining an unwritten rule that members of the Politburo Standing Committee, as the most powerful decision-making body, would not be subject to criminal penalties.
“Xi Jinping turned out to be a brilliant, ruthless politician who patiently rose through the system until he seized his moment to govern,” said Eurasia Group senior China analyst Neil Thomas.
"Senior communist party supporters of Xi's rise are likely taken aback by the speed and scale of his power struggle."
Illustration of President Xi Jinping and his loyalists.
Observers say the anti-corruption campaign that has
Xi Jinping announced his third term as China's leader on Sunday (23/10).
His speeches provided important clues about the future direction of his leadership. Previously, there were fears that China would shut itself off from the world economy.
But, Xi said, "China cannot develop without the world, and the world also needs China."
"After more than 40 years of relentless pursuit of reform and opening up, we have created two miracles - rapid economic development and long-term social stability."
China teaches Xi Jinping's ideology in schools, why is his thinking an obligation to study?
President Xi Jinping justifies demolition of mosques, religion in China must be 'China-oriented'
A decade ago, little was known about Xi, apart from the fact that he was a "prince" because his father was one of China's revolutionary leaders.
That bloodline helped him win the support of party elders, who were instrumental in bringing him to power over the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as these leaders often retain political influence even after retirement.
“Prior to his appointment, Xi Jinping was seen as someone who could compromise with everyone,” said Joseph Fewsmith, an expert on elite Chinese politics at Boston University.
But 10 years later, Xi's authority seems unquestioned, and his strength is unmatched. How did it happen?
'Political power grows from the barrel of a gun'
Mao Zedong, the founding father of Communist China, once said, “Political power grows from the barrel of a gun.”
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Mao ensured that it was the party that controlled the People's Liberation Army (TPR), not the state. Since then, the CCP leader has also become chairman of the Central Military Commission (KMP).
Xi was luckier than his predecessor, Hu Jintao, because he immediately became chairman of the KMP.
He also wasted no time and quickly eliminated the opposition within the armed forces.
The most shocking episodes occurred in 2014 and 2015, when former KMP deputy chairman Xu Caihou and former TPR general Guo Boxiong were accused of corruption.
"They were retired when the allegations surfaced, but Xi's ability to target them diminishes former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's longstanding influence in the PLA," said Joel Wuthnow, a senior fellow at the Pentagon-funded National Defense University.
"It also sends a strong signal to serving military officers that no one resisting Xi's control is immune from harm," he added.
Illustration of Chinese President Xi Jinping with the military
In 2015, Xi also overhauled the military structure. He closed four military headquarters – staff, political, logistics and weapons – then replaced them with 15 smaller bodies.
The new structure allows the KMP to command directly the various branches of the military, even to the point that financial auditors must report directly to the KMP, explained Wuthnow.
These things became the kind of insistence on absolute loyalty to Xi, which he still insists on today.
Last month, the People's Liberation Army Daily - the country's official military newspaper - published an article stressing that the KMP was in overall command.
"That message helps counteract any tendency that may develop in the military to build loyalty to senior TPR leaders who may one day oppose Xi," said Timothy Health, senior fellow in international defense at US think tank RAND.
“Loyalty to the party means the PLA is expected to carry out every order to keep the party, and Xi in particular, in power.”
Loyalty comes first
After securing the “gun barrel”, it is important to ensure that the “knife”, that is, the internal security apparatus, is under full control.
Two years after Xi came to power, authorities confirmed the arrest of a so-called "tiger", former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, for corruption.
Zhou was closely related to Bo Xilai, another "prince" who was Xi's rival.
The investigation sparked political shock by undermining an unwritten rule that members of the Politburo Standing Committee, as the most powerful decision-making body, would not be subject to criminal penalties.
“Xi Jinping turned out to be a brilliant, ruthless politician who patiently rose through the system until he seized his moment to govern,” said Eurasia Group senior China analyst Neil Thomas.
"Senior communist party supporters of Xi's rise are likely taken aback by the speed and scale of his power struggle."
Illustration of President Xi Jinping and his loyalists.
Observers say the anti-corruption campaign that has
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