President Xi Jinping (6do encyclopedia)



Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician who has been the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since 2012, President of the People’s Republic of China since 2013, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2014. He is one of the most powerful and influential leaders in China’s modern history, with his policies and vision shaping the country’s future trajectory.

Early Life and Political Career

Xi was born in 1953 in Beijing, the son of revolutionary veteran Xi Zhongxun. His father was a prominent communist leader who had served as the Vice-Premier under Mao Zedong. Growing up, Xi lived through the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution, which had a profound impact on his worldview and political outlook.

Xi entered politics in the early 1980s, working his way up the ranks of the CPC in various leadership positions at both the provincial and central levels. He gained a reputation as a competent and effective administrator, with a particular focus on economic development and reform.

In the late 1990s, Xi was appointed as the Governor of Fujian Province, where he oversaw a period of rapid economic growth and modernization. He later served as the Governor and Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province, where he continued to promote economic reforms and spearhead anti-corruption campaigns.

Rise to Power

In 2007, Xi was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, the highest decision-making body in the CPC. This placed him on track to become the country’s next leader, as members of the Standing Committee are typically chosen to succeed the incumbent President and Premier.

In November 2012, Xi was formally elected as the General Secretary of the CPC, succeeding Hu Jintao. This marked the beginning of a new era of Chinese leadership, as Xi was widely regarded as a more assertive and confident leader than his predecessors.

Xi’s Vision of China’s Future

Since coming to power, Xi has outlined a bold and ambitious vision for China’s future. He has emphasized the need for China to become a “great modern socialist country” by mid-century, with a high level of economic development, advanced technology, and global influence.

Xi has introduced a number of new policies and initiatives to achieve these goals, including the “Two Centenary Goals” and the “Belt and Road Initiative”. The former aims to achieve China’s “great renewal” by the centenaries of the CPC in 2021 and the founding of the People’s Republic in 2049. The latter is a massive infrastructure and investment plan spanning over 60 countries, aimed at promoting economic cooperation and development across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Under Xi’s leadership, China has also launched a number of ambitious projects in science and technology, including the development of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. These initiatives are aimed at promoting China’s long-term competitiveness and furthering its goal of becoming a global innovation leader.

Criticism and Controversy

While Xi’s leadership has been widely praised for its effectiveness and vision, it has also faced criticism and controversy from both domestic and international sources.

Domestically, Xi has been criticized for his crackdown on dissent and free speech, as well as his massive anti-corruption campaign, which has been accused of targeting political rivals and consolidating his own power. Critics have also expressed concern about China’s growing state surveillance apparatus and human rights abuses, including the treatment of ethnic minority groups such as Tibetans and Uighurs.

Internationally, Xi’s leadership has been viewed with concern by some Western countries, particularly the United States. The Trump administration has accused China of unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft, and tensions between the two countries have risen sharply in recent years. Some analysts also see China’s growing regional and global influence as a threat to the existing world order, particularly in Asia.

Conclusion

Xi Jinping is a powerful and influential leader who has had a profound impact on China’s political and economic trajectory. While his leadership has been praised for its vision and effectiveness, it has also faced criticism and controversy both domestically and internationally. As China continues to ascend on the global stage, Xi’s leadership will undoubtedly continue to shape the country’s future in profound ways.


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US report accuses China of jailing as many as 10,000 people

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 18:50


The US government has estimated that as many as 10,000 people have been jailed due to China's campaign of repression against religious groups. Beijing is said to be seeking to bring all theological activity under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. The annual International Religious Freedom Report provided the estimate, with figures ranging from the low thousands upwards. The section on China cited President Xi Jinping’s claim that “religions in China must be Chinese in orientation”, with particular crackdowns on groups classified as “cults”, including the Church of Almighty God and Falun Gong.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3220659/us-religious-freedom-report-accuses-china-jailing-many-10000-people-repression-campaign
Chinese general calls for PLA to prepare for ‘hybrid’ modern warfare

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 14:00


The conflict in Ukraine, which has shown that modern warfare has become a "contest of national strength", has prompted a senior Chinese military commander, General Wang Haijiang, commander of the People’s Liberation Army Western Theatre Command, to write that China needs to "fully prepare for military struggle". Recently published in Study Times, the official newspaper of the Communist Party’s Central Party School, Wang's article commands Beijing to consolidate and improve its integrated national strategic system and capabilities, stating that “the external suppression and containment the country is facing may escalate at any time”.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3220645/chinese-general-calls-military-prepare-hybrid-modern-warfare
World Bank Money to Suspected Huawei Firms Exposes US Disconnect

Bloomberg

23-05-15 06:34


The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that $10m in World Bank borrower funds were awarded to contractors with possible links to Huawei, after Republican senators requested the report. This exposes a rift between Washington’s national security priorities and the World Bank’s policies, where the US is the largest shareholder. The US has targeted Huawei over concerns that its equipment may be used to spy for China. Meanwhile, the World Bank only prohibits firms from bidding on borrower contracts if they’re under United Nations sanctions or banned for anti-corruption reasons.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-15/world-bank-money-to-suspected-huawei-firms-exposes-us-disconnect?srnd=next-china
China Jails 78-Year-Old American for Life on Espionage Charges

Bloomberg

23-05-15 04:29


China has sentenced 78-year-old dual American-Hong Kong national, John Leung, to life in prison on charges of espionage. He was arrested in April 2021 and had CNY 500,000 ($71,808) of his property confiscated. The US embassy has yet to comment on the sentence. Additionally, Beijing has recently passed new counter-espionage laws, widening the list of activities that may be considered spying. The new laws include the banning of all documents, data, materials and articles deemed to concern national security.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-15/china-jails-78-year-old-american-for-life-on-espionage-charges?srnd=next-china
Why Erdogan’s fate matters to Biden and the US

CNN

23-05-15 04:18


The Turkish presidential election outcome, still in flux, given geo-political importance by CNN. The article says incumbent President Erdogan's fate will have major implications not only for Turkey's democracy, which he has been said to weaken, but also for foreign policy given that Turkey's NATO membership has been complicated by Erdogan's affinity to Russia. Erdogan is said to have 'perplexed successive US Presidents' due to his relationship with strongman President Putin. Other major global leaders, such as China's President Xi and Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who have been at odds with and often a thorn in the side of the US Government, are also named in the article. However, the article claims that none of these leaders pose a threat to US democracy itself, which it claims is under more threat now than ever from within due to the rise of Donald Trump's political influence and rhetoric. President Biden's administration is positioning itself as a rallying beacon for democracies, as it seeks to contain populism, even at home.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/15/politics/erdogan-biden-global-democracy/index.html
Wall Street's Biggest Banks Face a Harsh Reality Check in China

Bloomberg

23-05-16 23:00


According to reports, multinational banks, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, are reportedly scaling back their goals and expansion plans in China due to the "deteriorating geopolitical climate" and the increasingly authoritarian direction of President Xi Jinping's government. In particular, the banks are struggling to compete against China's state-owned enterprises, which are "well-entrenched" in the market, making it difficult for global banks to compete. In the face of slowing growth for its economy, China has introduced the most sweeping changes to its financial services, including full ownership of insurers, banks, brokers, and asset managers by foreign firms. However, the country's ongoing geopolitical nuances have caused Wall Street firms to become more cautious about the China market; publicly, everyone is saying the same thing - China is still a massive opportunity, and they have no plans of withdrawing, particularly since such considerable money has already been spent. Privately, Wall Street executives told Bloomberg that it's challenging to maintain the confidence of both sides as tensions escalate, which is expected to intensify as the US election cycle approaches. Many Wall Street giants are considering more drastic job cuts as there is a realization that a fundamental rethink on the world’s No. 2 economy is necessary due to the weakened business climate, fewer opportunities for outsized profits and China's approach to the financial market. While planning to build onshore brokerage, Morgan Stanley is focusing its efforts on its derivatives and futures businesses.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-16/wall-street-rethink-goldman-morgan-stanley-china-ambitions-in-doubt?srnd=next-china
China: 39 missing after boat capsizes in Indian Ocean

Deutsche Welle

23-05-17 02:56


A Chinese fishing vessel has capsized in the middle of the Indian Ocean; state media has reported that the crew of 39, made up of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian and 5 Filipinos is missing. Search and rescue teams from Australia and many other countries have been deployed to assist in the operation. Multiple countries have been informed of the accident and asked to coordinate search and rescue operations.

https://www.dw.com/en/china-39-missing-after-boat-capsizes-in-indian-ocean/a-65651314
China looks to strengthen ties in Russia's Central Asian backyard

Reuters

23-05-17 09:34


China is to host an in-person summit of central Asian leaders this week, a bid to firm up its links with smaller former Soviet states, widely seen as Russia's backyard. China's president, Xi Jinping, is expected to discuss deepening economic and security links with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, a region which analysts say has been seeking alternative investment as Moscow concentrates on the Ukraine. The inaugural, virtual China-Central Asia leaders' summit was held in 2020, and China's trade with the five central Asia states has multiplied a hundred-fold since the establishment of diplomatic ties three decades ago.

https://www.reuters.com/world/china-looks-strengthen-ties-russias-central-asian-backyard-2023-05-17/
China asks Netherlands to ‘adhere to strategic autonomy’, amid US tensions

South China Morning Post

23-05-17 09:27


China's Premier Li Qiang has hailed the Netherlands as a "priority partner" in the face of heightened tensions with the US over its trade practices. During phone calls with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Li said he hopes that the Netherlands can help ensure Europe will "adhere to strategic autonomy, making greater contributions to the development of China-Europe ties". China has been hit by US export restrictions in recent months, with the Netherlands landing in the US crossfire after the Dutch government never granted ASML a licence to sell its most advanced semiconductors to Chinese customers.

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3220875/china-calls-netherlands-adhere-strategic-autonomy-us-restrictions-weigh-trade
China fines comedy troupe $2m for military joke

BBC

23-05-17 08:49


A Chinese comedy group has been fined 14.7 million yuan ($2.1m) after one of its performers used a joke about military conduct that included President Xi Jinping's slogan "fight to win, forge an exemplary conduct." Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media and comedian Li Haoshi accepted the penalty and terminated his contract. The offending remark, which described the behaviour of House's dogs, was made during a stand-up performance in Beijing, and was disliked by authorities who said that the troupe had "humiliated the people's army". On Tuesday, Beijing authorities seized 1.32 million yuan of what they deemed illegal income and levied an additional 13.35 million yuan fine on the company, with the company's activities in the Chinese capital suspended indefinitely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-65618584
Ukraine Recap: China’s Envoy Expected in Kyiv, Talks on Grain

Bloomberg

23-05-17 07:05


A Chinese envoy has arrived in Ukraine as part of a European tour aimed at bolstering President Xi Jinping’s peacekeeping credentials. The envoy will travel to Ukraine ahead of this week’s annual Group of Seven meeting and ahead of talks to export grain from Ukraine, while Russia threatens to withdraw from the pact. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops have advanced into the suburbs around Bakhmut in the face of heavy fighting, while Russian forces press on despite artillery and reinforcement. It is unclear if the Chinese envoy will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-17/ukraine-recap-china-s-envoy-expected-in-kyiv-talks-on-grain?srnd=next-china
The Three Worlds of Xinjiang

Spiegel

23-05-17 12:50


China's Xinjiang region is drawing a surge of visitors from the rest of China, despite Western nations' focus on the oppression faced by the Uighur Muslim minority. The "Strike Hard" campaign launched in 2014 resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being sent to internment camps. However, despite the repression continuing albeit in less visible ways, the region has been attracting tourists in great numbers with 8 million visitors recorded within just five days of holidays in early May; this was up 140% from the same period last year. Jiang's predecessor, security hardliner Chen Quanguo, placed heavy restrictions on the region compared to the current party secretary, Ma Xingrui.

Jiang’s instructions to showcase Chinese culture are being implemented with moderate success; however, there are three worlds that exist in Xinjiang: a Wonderland full of orientalist kitsch that has been concocted for tourists; a dark world of continuing repression, albeit harder to see than in previous years; and an in-between world in which the Uighurs probably live. It is evident that mass tourism and mass incarceration are not mutually exclusive, as evidenced by visitors flocking to Xinjiang despite the ongoing repression. Although there has been a surge in tourism, the Uighur city of yore appears to be fading.

Research by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in 2020 identified 380 facilities in Xinjiang that were likely to be camps, but visiting them is now difficult due to high security. Nevertheless, the camps are no longer the same; some are no longer in use for their original purpose and are now home to a technical college. The numbers of criminal prosecutions in Xinjiang have dramatically increased, and the judiciary is under the control of the Communist Party, ending in a guilty verdict around 99% of the time.


https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-three-worlds-of-xinjiang-a-trip-through-china-s-uyghur-region-a-e385b0f5-319a-47b6-acd6-17bd73e90e0c

Beijing tightens hold on rural China, training thousands of village chiefs

South China Morning Post

23-05-17 12:00


China is carrying out a massive campaign to tighten Beijing's grip over rural governance, starting with national-level training sessions for tens of thousands of village party chiefs. The sessions were hosted by the ruling Communist Party's top personnel department and the Central Party School; it is unusual for this school to focus on lower-level officials. Keeping rural managers in line is seen as an essential part of President Xi Jinping's long-term plan to revitalise rural areas following a massive poverty alleviation campaign. Before, the village heads were usually trained in the provincial or municipal party schools; now, Beijing is providing direct guidance.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3220883/beijing-tightens-control-over-rural-china-training-campaign-thousands-village-chiefs
China's Xi pledges deeper Kazakh ties in times of 'prosperity and adversity'

Reuters

23-05-17 11:57


China is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Kazakhstan, according to Chinese President Xi Jinping. The comments came ahead of China's first in-person summit of leaders from Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. These countries, all formerly part of the Soviet Union, are seeking alternative sources of investment as Moscow channels resources into the war in Ukraine. Since establishing ties 30 years ago, China's trade with the five Central Asian states has increased 100-fold, with investment between China and the group reaching over $70bn in 2022.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-xi-pledges-deeper-kazakh-ties-times-prosperity-adversity-2023-05-17/
Debt-Limit Fight Undermines US Pitch of Stability to Allies Wary of China

Bloomberg

23-05-17 16:06


President Joe Biden’s visit to Asia to reassure allies of the US focus on China’s aggressiveness in the region has backfired. The trip, which was originally intended to be a tour of three nations to highlight the US commitment to the Asia region, has been hugely diminished as Biden has cancelled stops in Papua New Guinea and Australia to focus on debt-limit talks with Republicans. Furthermore, there is speculation that if the US defaults on its debt, in conjunction with Biden’s decision to leave Asia early, this would undermine Biden’s message of strength and provide a potentially favourable contrast with China’s President Xi Jinping. Despite this, Biden still plans to attend a Group of 7 meeting in Japan where allies will confront what they call China’s economic pressure on less powerful countries. One foreign diplomat has claimed that skipping the G-7 would undermine a sense of unity towards China.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-17/debt-ceiling-fight-diminishes-us-appeal-for-allies-to-turn-away-from-china?srnd=next-china
Biden says he and China's Xi will meet, 'whether it's soon or not'

Reuters

23-05-17 15:41


US President Joe Biden has said that he will be speaking with China's President Xi Jinping, but he did not specify a timeframe. The two leaders are expected to discuss several issues, including trade, climate change and human rights concerns. However, tensions between the two countries have been high in recent years, particularly over issues such as China's treatment of ethnic minorities and the origins of Covid-19.

https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-says-he-chinas-xi-will-meet-whether-its-soon-or-not-2023-05-17/
FirstFT: Sunak considers following US lead on Chinese investment curbs

Financial Times

23-05-17 22:19


UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has said that he is considering following the US's lead by imposing new restrictions on domestic companies investing in critical industries in China. US President, Joe Biden, has been drawing up a plan to limit investments in key parts of the Chinese economy, which is yet to be announced. Sunak also mentioned that placing further export controls on China would also be discussed at the G7 gathering. Meanwhile, Sunak has backed away from his promise to ban Confucius Institutes from operating in Britain in an attempt to improve UK-China relations.

https://www.ft.com/content/fdc660d9-0dc3-4d3d-b077-a3cbee78521e
Xi Summit to Deepen Central Asian Ties in Split-Screen With G-7

Bloomberg

23-05-17 21:30


Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to deepen China's influence in Central Asia by attending a meeting between the Beijing leadership and leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday in the Chinese city of Xi’an. Talks will be dominated by trade ties, regional security concerns and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The event will run in parallel with US President Joe Biden's meeting with G7 leaders in Japan, further highlighting the division between the Western-led order and China's increasing influence. The meeting is also expected to be used by Xi to reinforce China's Belt and Road initiative, which has lost strength recently. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson met with Joe Biden on Thursday to establish a more coordinated approach to China and Russia, in addition to ensuring increased global vaccine production, particularly in poorer nations, is achieved.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-17/xi-summit-to-deepen-central-asian-ties-in-split-screen-with-g-7?srnd=next-china
Comedy troupe hit with £1.7mil fine by Chinese authorities after joke

The Independent

23-05-17 20:49


A Chinese comedy group has been fined £1.7m ($2.13m) by authorities after one of its performers joked about the military. Li Haoshi, known as House, entertained an audience with a routine in which he described seeing two dogs he had adopted chase a squirrel, which he said had reminded him of a slogan used by President Xi Jinping to praise the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2013. The Beijing arm of the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism Bureau accused Shanghai Xiaoguo Culture Media of “harming society” by letting Li perform the piece. Li’s tale went viral on Chinese social media. The cultural bureau stated that Xiaoguo Culture would be banned from staging future shows in the capital. The company blamed “major loopholes in management” and claimed to have terminated Li’s contract.

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/china/comedy-troupe-joke-china-censorship-b2340646.html