The Congress of China’s Communist Party met for the 19th time since the Mao led revolution in the year 1949. The proceedings lasted for about a week in the Great Hall of Beijing from 18th to 24th October, 2017. It was attended by 3000 senior most party-cadres from all across the mainland. The meeting brought about global interest and coverage of near unprecedented nature. Investors, stockbrokers and bankers, alongside statesmen paid considerable attention to the unfolding of the events, in an international environment petrified by conservatism and right-wing radicalism. The international community seems to trust the world’s leading economy (in terms of purchasing-power parity) under Xi Jinping, although the country remains a hybrid system of communism with a market-economy. The Chinese strongman has taken a positive stance on important international matters like climate change and free trade. His vision of ‘China’s Dream’ has greatly fascinated global leaders, many of whom have taken an active part in the revival of the Old Silk route under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI). An important question to ponder over in the backdrop of 19th CPC Congress, is whether with the rise of almost ‘Emperor’ like position of Xi in China, will he be able to deliver what is expected of him by the international community or whether he will face a tough time from the US whose ‘Pivot towards Asia’ has brought with it a number of challenges, including the possibility of a nuclear exchange.
The international community seems to trust the world’s leading economy (in terms of purchasing-power parity) under Xi Jinping, although the country remains a hybrid system of communism with a market-economy.
‘Nations rise with great leaders’, with the offset of the CPC meeting Xi Jinping has grown even stronger and much greater in power. The cult, the Chinese President was building upon has now been ‘rubber-stamped’ by the top-most institution. The President was presented with a tribute that enshrined his name in the Party Constitution on the occasion of CCP Congress. Xi Jinping becomes the only leader of Communist China to have elevated to the greatness of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The ‘permanent instructor for life’, according to state media, under his visionary thought is writing a history that will make the country achieve ‘new zeniths of glory’.
Xi Jinping becomes the only leader of Communist China to have elevated to the greatness of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. The ‘permanent instructor for life’, according to state media, under his visionary thought is writing a history that will make the country achieve ‘new zeniths of glory’.
Analysts believe that Xi is not leaving anytime soon, as his legacy would continue to survive and have influence long after even if he steps down in the year 2022. Although the consequences of this ‘cult’ may be severe for local party dissidents, the international community sees the developments as generally favourable and as a factor providing impending stability, knowing that there would not be any drastic change in the policy actions of the Communist regime.
International political scientists believing that foreign policy is an extension of domestic politics and conditions would argue that Xi might show a degree of assertiveness over issues involving China’s security, particularly in the South China Sea, now that his position as the strongman of China is fully secured. An argument can also be made in favour of a more liberal attitude on part of Xi, who can bring up reforms in state structure and the economy. The President of China has a more of an open-hand with the ‘cult of his leadership’ and with the absence of any real opposition in the politburo, time will tell whether he swings towards a more authoritarian approach of Mao or does he take up a liberal reforms approach of Deng Xiaoping.
Although one cannot rule out the possibility of either an assertive or a reformist Xi in the wake of the 19th Party Congress. China and its leadership should however learn from the past examples of the former Soviet Union and its satellites whose assertive Brezhnve Doctrine entrapped the country into Afghanistan whereas, reformist Mikhail Gorbachev with his drastic reforms ‘perestroika’ and ‘glasnost’ opened the floodgates that led to the demise of a world superpower. However, China is no Soviet Union, time will tell how it deals with the problems at bay. Till then journalists and policy-makers would continue to question the ‘Peaceful Rise of China’, and whether the country is willing to move-up in the escalation ladder over South China Sea and possibly its communist counterpart, North Korea. As for whether Xi’s policies would change in the wake of his elevation at the Party Congress remains the prime question. President Donald Trump has plans to meet the leadership of Beijing and Seoul, later this November. The answers to which would become much clearer in the post-meeting analysis.
