Xi Jinping updates
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Chinese children aged 10 years will soon need to take it education in the mind of Xi Jinping. Before reaching the age of puberty, students are expected to study topics related to the life of a Chinese leader and understand that “Xi Jinping’s grandmother always takes care of us.”
This is supposed to be an alarm bell in modern China. The Xi-led worship of the state has the same words as a personality around Mao Zedong – and also, of the hunger and fear created by Mao at the Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. From Russia’s Stalin to Romania of Ceausescu Kim’s visit to North Korea by Castro’s Cuba, a combination of religious traditions and Communist Party law often leads to poverty and violence.
This analogy seems absurd, given the economic and evolutionary status of modern China. The country’s economic transformation in recent years has been dramatic – leading Beijing to promote a “China model” from which the world can learn.
But it is important to differentiate between the “China model” and the “Xi model”. The Chinese brand of reconstruction and opening, produced by Deng Xiaoping, is based on the denial of human worship. Deng encouraged authorities “seek the truth from the truth”. The process should be guided by an in-depth analysis of what works, and not the main points of Chairman Mao.
Allowing government officials to test new economic policies, it was necessary to address the fears and ideologies associated with an all-powerful leader. China’s leadership structure was established in 1982, with each leader banned for two years. In the past years of Deng, China has managed to change the system of leadership – from Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao, and from Hu to Xi in 2012.
Time limits also have to deal with a series of problems that tend to hit one party. From now on, the entire leadership of the party will need more than one loving leadership of one person.
During the Xi era, however, the Chinese Communist Party also took a religious stand. That embedded Xi Jinping decided on his rules at a conference in 2017. This was an honor bestowed on only one leader, still in power – Mao. In 2018, the deadline for Deng’s term for Chinese president was eliminated – establishing a section for Xi to rule for many years, if not all life.
The current reinforcement of the Xi religion, looks set to prepare for next year party meeting – while the Chinese leader’s desire to remain in power is permanent, it must be sealed with a rubber band by his party.
Xi is confident that he will get what he wants. Followers and theater groups that organized it will honor this move. How could he not? The Chinese leader is supposed to be a “good Emperor” – a wise leader, who is making every effort to reform the country.
It is possible to make a case for Xi’s signatures – as a fighting corruption and much more External policies. Current campaigns to reduce inequality, and to control the power of large modern corporations, can also be justified.
But all of these processes can be easily disrupted. The threat to Taiwan could lead to an unnecessary conflict with the US. Failure to use high technology can intimidate businesses and disrupt organizations.
The real problem is that if things go wrong, it can be difficult for everyone to speak up. All ethical religions are based on the idea that a superior leader is wiser than anyone else around him. He cannot be admitted that he has made a mistake. Chinese critics of how Xi supports the Covid-19 epidemic have been was sent to prison. There will be no public debate or parliament on the epidemic in Xi, China.
The religion of Xi is also very embarrassing for middle school and senior Chinese students – who are supposed to study Xi thinking every day about a special program. They are expected to respect the leader’s views and burn their favorite words, such as “green mountains with white water and the equivalent of mountains of gold and silver”. Anyone who views the event as questionable or ridiculous is wise to keep their minds fixed. Xi religion means that infidelity and fear are now cooked up in Chinese practices.
Developing Xi leadership in the future is another way of challenging future challenges. The Chinese leader is 68 years old. At some point, he will no longer be fit to rule. But how?
Xi’s creation of the human religion and its movement to be, “the ruler of life” is part of a global crisis. In Russia, Vladimir Putin is also promoting Changes to the rules this will allow him to remain President for eighty years. Donald Trump “joked” with jealousy that the US should adopt China’s border resolution.
But the US has checks and scales, which have so far managed to thwart Trump’s negative views. In a country like China – without independent courts, elections or free media – there are no real religious barriers. This is why Xi is now a threat to his homeland.
gideon.rachman@ft.com