Read on Twitter
56/68
Hu Jintao was set to retire in 2013. This convention was succession planning exercise. This is where Xi managed to worm his way into the 9-member Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC. How he pulled that off, we don't know. China is quite opaque like that.
Hu Jintao was set to retire in 2013. This convention was succession planning exercise. This is where Xi managed to worm his way into the 9-member Politburo Standing Committee of the CPC. How he pulled that off, we don't know. China is quite opaque like that.
57/68
Do note that Xi managed to outrank Li Keqiang, himself one of the most powerful persons in China at the time, despite the latter being endorsed by President Hu himself. This is seen as a veritable diplomatic masterstroke, one that almost cleared Xi's path for 2013.
Do note that Xi managed to outrank Li Keqiang, himself one of the most powerful persons in China at the time, despite the latter being endorsed by President Hu himself. This is seen as a veritable diplomatic masterstroke, one that almost cleared Xi's path for 2013.
58/68
Early next year Xi was elected the Vice President of China, further sealing his fate as the future Paramount Leader. The following 4 years were spent traveling the world preparing for his future role at the helm. One such trip was to Mexico on Feb 11, 2008.
Early next year Xi was elected the Vice President of China, further sealing his fate as the future Paramount Leader. The following 4 years were spent traveling the world preparing for his future role at the helm. One such trip was to Mexico on Feb 11, 2008.
59/68
Addressing a gathering of Chinese expats, Xi castigated the "well-fed foreign critics" for defaming China. This speech established Xi in international reckoning, further cementing his odds. Then came October 2012. The 18th National Party Congress. https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/01/12/wikileaked-chinas-next-president-lashed-out-in-mexico-against-well-fed-foreigners/
Addressing a gathering of Chinese expats, Xi castigated the "well-fed foreign critics" for defaming China. This speech established Xi in international reckoning, further cementing his odds. Then came October 2012. The 18th National Party Congress. https://foreignpolicy.com/2011/01/12/wikileaked-chinas-next-president-lashed-out-in-mexico-against-well-fed-foreigners/
60/68
This was the moment of truth. Xi Jinping was officially named to succeed Hu Jintao as China's President in a few months. In this capacity, Xi got 3 roles:
1. President, PRC,
2. Chairman, Central Military Commission, and
3. Gen. Secretary, CPC.
The writing was on the wall.
This was the moment of truth. Xi Jinping was officially named to succeed Hu Jintao as China's President in a few months. In this capacity, Xi got 3 roles:
1. President, PRC,
2. Chairman, Central Military Commission, and
3. Gen. Secretary, CPC.
The writing was on the wall.
61/68
Immediately upon taking charge, Xi launched a massive crackdown against corruption that touched over a million govt. officials, several high-ranking ones included. In reality, this was also a party "rectification" campaign. A move to purge rivals. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/04/xi-jinping-china-corruption-political-culture/389787/
Immediately upon taking charge, Xi launched a massive crackdown against corruption that touched over a million govt. officials, several high-ranking ones included. In reality, this was also a party "rectification" campaign. A move to purge rivals. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/04/xi-jinping-china-corruption-political-culture/389787/
62/68
Through this campaign, Xi managed to get powerful princelings and seniors like Zhou Yongkang, Sun Zhengcai, and Bo Xilai eliminated. This already made him the most powerful man in China. But that wasn't enough. All of this was to go away eventually. Unless...
Through this campaign, Xi managed to get powerful princelings and seniors like Zhou Yongkang, Sun Zhengcai, and Bo Xilai eliminated. This already made him the most powerful man in China. But that wasn't enough. All of this was to go away eventually. Unless...
63/68
Remember that new constitution Xi's father had helped push in 1982? The idea was to prevent a repeat of Mao-style personality cult. It had 2 key elements added to this effect. One of them was the separation of power between the Presidency, the military, and the party.
Remember that new constitution Xi's father had helped push in 1982? The idea was to prevent a repeat of Mao-style personality cult. It had 2 key elements added to this effect. One of them was the separation of power between the Presidency, the military, and the party.
64/68
By appointing himself at the helm of all 3, a first since the 80s, Xi had taken care of that item. The other item was term limits. No matter how powerful, Xi just couldn't go beyond 10 years. This was fixed in 2018 at the 13th National People's Congress.
By appointing himself at the helm of all 3, a first since the 80s, Xi had taken care of that item. The other item was term limits. No matter how powerful, Xi just couldn't go beyond 10 years. This was fixed in 2018 at the 13th National People's Congress.
65/68
It was meant to be a succession planning huddle like the one in 2007. However, instead of appointing a potential successor, Xi pulled a coup. He introduced a constitutional amendment bill to abolish term limits. It passed. Almost without dissent. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/02/27/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-lifting-term-limits-for-xi-jinping/
It was meant to be a succession planning huddle like the one in 2007. However, instead of appointing a potential successor, Xi pulled a coup. He introduced a constitutional amendment bill to abolish term limits. It passed. Almost without dissent. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/02/27/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-lifting-term-limits-for-xi-jinping/
66/68
Along with the removal of term-limits, the amendment also enshrined into the Constitution Xi's political philosophy, "Xi Jinping Thought." The last time this was done was when Mao lived. This move effectively placed Xi in the pantheon of the world's uncontested.
Along with the removal of term-limits, the amendment also enshrined into the Constitution Xi's political philosophy, "Xi Jinping Thought." The last time this was done was when Mao lived. This move effectively placed Xi in the pantheon of the world's uncontested.
67/68
But this is where Xi departed from the road taken by Mao and Stalin. Optics. All the censorship and crackdowns notwithstanding, Xi has meticulously crafted the image of a leader drunk on his people's progress and not on power. He's ruthless, but not seen as such.
But this is where Xi departed from the road taken by Mao and Stalin. Optics. All the censorship and crackdowns notwithstanding, Xi has meticulously crafted the image of a leader drunk on his people's progress and not on power. He's ruthless, but not seen as such.
68/68
So that's the story of the world's most patient dictator. Who didn't let humiliation fill him with vengeance, vengeance cloud his vision, and vision blind him to his predecessors' realities. If tyranny is an art, Xi has come closer to mastering it than anyone ever could.
So that's the story of the world's most patient dictator. Who didn't let humiliation fill him with vengeance, vengeance cloud his vision, and vision blind him to his predecessors' realities. If tyranny is an art, Xi has come closer to mastering it than anyone ever could.
