China’s One-Man Show
This month, Xi Jinping was effectively made president for life. What should we make of this and Xi’s long-term ambitions for China?
China’s President Xi Jinping is seen on a large screen over delegates as he joins a session of the National People’s Congress to vote on a constitutional amendment at The Great Hall Of The People on March 11, 2018 in Beijing, China.Kevin Frayer / Getty
In early March, the National Peoples’ Congress repealed the two-term limit for the Chinese presidency, a measure originally instituted by Deng Xiaoping to prevent the reemergence of a cult of personality around the Chinese leader. Xi Jinping, the current president, is now China’s undisputed master.
In fact, Xi already holds the country’s top three offices: in addition to the presidency, he’s also general secretary of the Communist Party and head of the military. Now he can hold these posts for as long as he draws breath. What does this all mean? And what are Xi’s long-term ambitions for China?
To learn more, Doug Henwood spoke to Isabel Hilton, an editor and journalist with extensive expertise in Chinese affairs. The full interview is available here.
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