Xi Jinping Went From Undisputed Dictator To Embattled Ruler In 6 Weeks.
Just 6 weeks after clinching absolute power, Xi is finding himself in a precarious position no one could have predicted. (NY Times)
“Striding out to speak to the Chinese nation just under six weeks ago, Xi Jinping exuded regal dominance. He had just won what was likely to be another decade in power. His new team of subordinates stood out as unbending loyalists. A Communist Party congress had cemented his authoritarian agenda and promised a “new era” when China’s 1.4 billion people would stay in ever-loyal step with him and the party.
But a nationwide surge of protest has sent a stunning sign that even after one decade under Mr. Xi’s rule, a small and mostly youthful part of the population dares to imagine, even demand, another China: more liberal, less controlling, politically freer. A murmur of dissent that has survived censorship, detentions and official damnation under Mr. Xi suddenly broke into a collective roar.”
The protests in China came out of nowhere and caught the ruling Communist party and especially Xi Jinping by surprise. It was not long until the vast security forces sprung into action and quelled the demonstrations but many long time China experts expect the protests to have a longer shelf life than the ruling class will ever admit. Now that Covid is raging in the nation like never before it remains to be seen what Xi’s next steps will be to reassert authority and tame the the viral spread.
