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First Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Is Xi Jinping's dream of being China's 'president for life' unravelling?
After over a decade of unchallenged authority, Xi Jinping is showing signs of stepping back. From skipping key summits like Brics in Brazil to quietly redistributing the Chinese Communist Party control, China's most dominant leader since Mao may be preparing for a shift. Is the era of Xi as 'president for life' beginning to fade as the 2027 Party Congress approaches? read more Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the Kremlin to attend a festive concert, held on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia, May 8, 2025. File Image/RIA Novosti via Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping is beginning to relinquish some of his long-held control over the operations of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). For the first time in his leadership, key responsibilities are being passed down to Party institutions and senior colleagues, a move that experts see as significant given Xi's history of centralising power. In late June, the Politburo — China's core political decision-making body — examined a new framework regulating Party-affiliated organs. These bodies, known as central commissions and leading groups, have played a growing role in Chinese governance throughout Xi's tenure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Xinhua, these groups are expected to focus on 'planning, discussing and checking on major matters.' This redefinition of duties aims to strengthen coordination across Party institutions, which have increasingly taken on functions that were once the domain of state agencies. Most of these organisations were either created or given expanded authority under Xi, especially in sensitive sectors such as finance, science and technology, cybersecurity and national security. Some of these entities have already begun operating under the leadership of figures other than Xi, including Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, and Cai Qi, Xi's chief of staff. CCP devolves under Xi Jinping Over the last decade, the CCP has overhauled several state functions by transferring authority to Party-led mechanisms. During Xi's rule, the creation or elevation of 'leading small groups' into 'central commissions' has become a recurring strategy to assert direct Party oversight. This transformation has affected multiple policy areas, including economic reform, religious affairs, and overseas Chinese relations. A notable example is the transformation of the group overseeing Hong Kong and Macau. Initially a modest entity, it was upgraded to a Party commission in 2020 and took control from the previously dominant State Council-based office. Similar structural changes were implemented in 2023, where commissions on finance and science were placed under Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang, respectively. The cyberspace commission, a critical agency for China's internet governance and data regulation, is now chaired by Cai Qi. Xi's muted visibility Xi Jinping's recent absences from major international events have also drawn attention. For the first time since assuming the presidency, he did not attend the Brics summit, held this year in Rio de Janeiro. Chinese Premier Li Qiang led the Chinese delegation. This followed a similar pattern in 2023, when Xi skipped the G20 summit in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Between May 21 and June 5, Xi did not appear in public for 14 consecutive days. This unusually long silence, uncharacteristic for the Chinese president, added to questions about shifts in his leadership style. Additionally, a new Revolutionary Memorial Hall opened in Shaanxi Province was not named after Xi's father, Xi Zhongxun, despite expectations to the contrary. Xi Zhongxun was a senior figure in the Party, and the absence of his name from the hall stood out amid Xi Jinping's otherwise consistent emphasis on his revolutionary lineage. Xi Jinping, China's 'president for life' Xi Jinping's current authority stems from a series of institutional reforms and leadership consolidations that began when he assumed power in 2012. He rapidly ascended through the ranks, simultaneously holding the top three positions in China's political structure: General Secretary of the Communist Party, President of the country, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Soon after taking office, Xi launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that penalised over a million Party members and removed several high-ranking military officers. This effort bolstered his standing as an uncompromising reformer and helped dismantle potential opposition. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During his second term, Xi's political clout was further cemented when he was formally designated as the 'core leader' of the CCP — a title previously reserved for Mao Zedong. In 2018, the National People's Congress approved a constitutional amendment eliminating the two-term limit for the presidency. This cleared the way for Xi to pursue a third term, which he secured in 2022 as General Secretary, followed by re-election as president in 2023. With this shift, Xi diverged from all his predecessors, who voluntarily stepped down after two five-year terms. His continuation in office without term limits earned him the unofficial title of 'President for Life.' Headwinds challenging Xi's power Despite his ironclad hold on power, Xi's tenure has not been without controversy or crisis. His handling of the Covid-19 pandemic faced widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally. When the virus emerged in late 2019, doctors who first raised alarms were detained, and Xi remained silent publicly until January 20, 2020, despite being briefed on the outbreak on January 7. This delay is widely viewed as a lost opportunity to contain the virus early. The subsequent enforcement of the 'zero-Covid' policy involved mass lockdowns, forced quarantines and extensive travel restrictions. Though initially hailed as a success, the policy eventually crippled China's economy and triggered rare public demonstrations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its sudden reversal in December 2022 left millions un-vaccinated, particularly the elderly and raised questions about planning and transparency. By July 2022, only 51 per cent of citizens over the age of 80 had received a single vaccine dose, compared to 93 per cent in Japan. Economic challenges have also heated up. When Xi first came to power, China's GDP grew at 7.8 per cent in 2013, already slower than previous years. Since then, growth has steadily declined. Promises to double the size of the economy by 2035 remain far off-track amid a slowing property sector, declining exports and regulatory crackdowns on private enterprises. In foreign policy, Xi's assertive posture has alienated several regional neighbours. China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, under the so-called 'nine-dash line,' have escalated tensions with countries like the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, pushing them closer to the United States — an outcome contrary to Beijing's strategic objectives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dissent within the top ranks Xi's leadership has also seen repeated purges of top-level officials, indicating an undercurrent of instability within the CCP's upper echelons. In 2023 alone, Defence Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were removed from office. That same year, Foreign Minister Qin Gang — formerly ambassador to the US and a fluent English speaker — disappeared from public view just months into his role. While Wei and Li were reportedly ousted over corruption charges, no explanation has been offered for Qin's removal. The expulsion of Admiral Miao Hua from the Central Military Commission — the apex command structure of China's armed forces — further suggests discord within the military leadership. These developments, though rarely acknowledged in state media, hint at fractures inside the tightly guarded corridors of Chinese power. Although Xi continues to dominate headlines — appearing on the front page of People's Daily 157 times between April and June 2025 — there are clear signs that the monolithic image of his rule is being tested. What next ahead of CCP's National Congress in 2027? Xi Jinping turned 72 in June this year. The next significant milestone in China's political calendar is the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party, scheduled for 2027. That event will mark the end of Xi's third term as General Secretary and could provide clarity on whether he plans to remain at the helm or initiate a phased handover of responsibilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Although some analysts have suggested that recent developments could indicate preparations for succession, others note that no apparent successor has been identified. Unlike previous leaders, Xi did not promote a designated heir at the end of his first term in 2017 and has refrained from doing so since. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM Rangasamy ‘betrayed' people of Puducherry by not attending NITI Aayog meeting: CPI
Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary K. Narayana has accused Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy of 'betraying' the people of the Union Territory (UT) by not attending the recently held Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog in New Delhi. Addressing a press conference in the UT on Monday (May 26, 2025), the CPI leader said the NITI Aayog meeting was a platform for the Chief Minister to raise issues pertaining to the UT. 'The meeting was not a personal event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Chief Minister to skip. The meeting was held by the Prime Minister of the country to discuss issues concerning the States and country at a large. Mr. Rangasamy, by deciding to abstain from the meeting, has betrayed the interests of the people of the UT. The Chief Minister is not serious about getting Statehood for Puducherry,' he said. Mr. Narayana also criticised the Prime Minister for keeping mum on United States President Donald Trump's statement that he had brokered the Indo-Pak truce after India launched Operation Sindoor. He also slammed the Central government for not accepting the offer made by Maoist leaders for talks and negotiations. He further informed that the CPI would be holding the Party Congress in September in Chandigarh.
New Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CPI(M) outlines expansion strategy under new leadership; to engage 10 lakh members, highlight past reforms
NEW DELHI: With new leadership in place, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has outlined a comprehensive programme to maintain its influence and expand its support base across various states, while also organising struggles rooted in local issues. Within a month, the party aims to engage all 10 lakh members through a series of meetings at both the state and district levels, and to implement key decisions taken at its recent Party Congress. Additionally, the CPM plans to actively highlight and remind the public of the reforms it introduced in the states where it governed for years. Meetings have already taken place in two states—Punjab and Kerala. 'We will have our task identified soon. We have prepared the note, which has been sent to the states, outlining how the key decisions of the Party Congress are to be communicated within the party. The message will reach the entire organisation by mid-June,' said newly-elected CPM general secretary MA Baby. 'To expand, we have to work with the poorest of the poor. They should feel that this red-flag party is theirs—and that through no other party can they hope to make progress in life.' As part of broader efforts to sustain political momentum, Baby stressed the need to consolidate the party's existing base. 'We should ensure that whatever local influence we have, there should not be any further erosion.'
Deccan Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
CPI(M) to add 'live-in' option in Party Congress form
The issue came up as the 'Credentials Committee' of the Party Congress in Madurai earlier this month was encountered with one who did not fit into the 'traditional understanding of relations' as he is in a 'live-in' relationship and was reported in the Credentials Report placed before the Party Congress and later approved by it.
The Guardian
05-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Explained: what is China's Two Sessions meeting?
China's annual Two Sessions meetings begins this week, with thousands of political and community delegates descending on Beijing from across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau to ratify legislation, personnel changes and the budget over about two weeks of highly choreographed meetings. The event is called the 'two sessions' because both the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) hold their annual meetings separately, but at the same time. The CPPCC is an advisory body, with little real political influence but often sees some outside-the-box proposals for issues like China's demographic crisis. Its members include business executives, celebrities and celebrated individuals who previously included the likes of actor Jackie Chan and basketballer Yao Ming. The 3,000-member NPC is the Chinese Communist party's legislative body, but is largely a 'rubber stamp' parliament, having never rejected a bill put before it. The meetings include 'work report' speeches by the premier, and sometimes – but not always – speeches by the party leader. Official economic targets are set, military budgets announced, and changes in the ranks of party leadership bodies are confirmed. The Two Sessions gathering has hosted hugely significant policy changes in the past. In 2023 it saw the formalisation of Xi Jinping's precedent-busting third term as leader. In 2020 the NPC unveiled plans for the national security law now in place over Hong Kong. This year observers are looking out for major economic stimulus policies to address China's struggling economy and high youth unemployment, as well as changes in the party's approach to the tech industry. The sector was out in the cold for a number of years, apparently having strayed too far from Xi's ideology. But a recent symposium saw several high profile executives welcomed and greeted by Xi, broadcast on state media. There will likely be pronouncements on Taiwan. Xi and the Chinese Communist party (CCP) have long voiced their intentions to annex Taiwan, refusing to rule out using force to do so. Taiwan's government and people increasingly oppose the prospect of Chinese rule, and the situation has grown increasingly hostile and precarious. In the last few weeks language coming from the CCP about Taiwan has grown a little harsher, according to observers who watch carefully for even the most minute changes in the CCP's carefully crafted statements. And then of course in the background, is the return of Trump and his tariffs on China. The Two Sessions, like all of the CCP's political meetings, are highly choreographed and planned to the tiniest detail – but unexpected things still happen. At the 2022 Party Congress Peng Lifa staged a brave protest at Sitong Bridge in Beijing. Peng was detained, his location still unknown, and authorities now closely guard Beijing bridges during political events to ensure it won't be repeated. At that same 2022 event, foreign press captured the extraordinary moment that former president Hu Jintao was physically removed from his seat next to Xi and shuffled out of the room. The sessions are attended by a huge crowd of foreign media, many of them flying in for the meeting and a rare chance to interact with CCP officials in person. In 2024, the annual premier's press conference was abruptly cancelled without explanation, closing down one of the already limited forums for transparency.
