China

Latest News

China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump’s weakness and vacillation | Simon Tisdall - The Guardian

What Trump Gets Wrong About China - Foreign Affairs

EU’s von der Leyen won’t go to China with French President Macron - South China Morning Post

Xi-Trump Talks Revive Idea of a G-2 Running the World - Bloomberg.com

‘Protests came too late for Hong Kong. But Taiwan still has time’ - The Times

Quick Summary of China & Xi Jinping

China’s political system, structured as a one-party state under the Communist Party of China (CPC), does not include mechanisms for impeachment as understood in Western democratic systems. Instead, leadership transitions and accountability are managed internally through party disciplines, anti-corruption campaigns, and the National People’s Congress (NPC), which formally approves top appointments. President Xi Jinping, who has consolidated power to an unprecedented degree since taking office in 2012, has further centralized authority by abolishing term limits in 2018, allowing him to remain in office indefinitely. His leadership has been marked by a crackdown on dissent, a sweeping anti-corruption drive that removed political rivals, and a push for ideological conformity, making any challenge to his rule highly unlikely within the current framework. While rumors of internal party friction occasionally surface, the CPC’s tight control over information and its emphasis on stability ensure that public discussions of leadership removal remain virtually nonexistent. Recent developments in China have instead focused on Xi’s efforts to strengthen his legacy, including economic reforms aimed at reducing reliance on foreign technology, a more assertive foreign policy, and the promotion of "common prosperity" to address wealth inequality. Internationally, his third term as president, confirmed in 2023, has reinforced his position as China’s most dominant leader since Mao Zedong. While Western observers sometimes speculate about potential power struggles within the CPC, particularly amid economic slowdowns or public discontent, the party’s opaque decision-making processes make such dynamics difficult to assess. For now, Xi’s grip on power appears secure, with the CPC presenting a united front to maintain domestic control and project strength on the global stage. Any significant shift in his leadership would likely stem from internal party maneuvers rather than public or institutional challenges.