Early Warning Brief: Xi Jinping Issues Tough Warnings to Enemies Within the Party
By: Willy Wo-Lap Lam
July 23, 2021 11:28 AM Age: 15 hours
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Conclusion
In the run-up to next year’s 20th Party Congress, Xi and his supporters are tipped to promulgate more internal and public regulations affirming the imperative of the leadership core staying in power as long as his health permits. A late 2020 edition of the party theoretical journal Qiushi (求是) noted that the evaluation of cadres must be based on their “performance on the front line of major struggles.” This is an oblique reference to the fact that when policy or personnel controversies arise within the party, all cadres must studiously toe the party line in response (Qiushi, December 2, 2020). China is beset with tough challenges both in the economy and foreign affairs. The country is struggling to maintain a minimum growth rate of 6 percent this year in order to pay down its debt (which grew in response to anti-pandemic stimulus measures) and boost a still-recovering jobs market. On the diplomatic front, the PRC faces a growing “anti-China” coalition organized by the Joe Biden administration with support by major groups including NATO, the Five Eyes coalition and the Quad, as well as increasing bilateral ties between the U.S. and Chinese neighbors such as India and Japan that appear to be bolstered by shared concerns over China. Despite his tight control over internal propaganda and the police-state apparatus, Xi faces strong challenges to retaining his near-absolutist power for the next decade or so.