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What does Xi Jinping stand for?

By Chin Jin - posted Monday, 8 April 2013


As heir apparent, and a rapidly rising star in Chinese politics, Xi Jinping's first foray into the world of Western media was through his energetic speech in Mexico in February 2009, when he made the following stunning comments; 'Some foreigners, who are well-fed but have nothing to do, try to find faults in our domestic affairs. First, China does not export revolution; secondly, China does not export hunger and poverty; and thirdly, China does not torment you. What else can you say?'

It is said that 'one's lifelong habits can be traced back to a very young age', in which case, these arrogant and shocking remarks by Xi seem to provide a fundamental indication of his future governance strategies and thoughts, marking his ideological preferences after gaining power.

Xi's elevation within politics and his final anointment as heir apparent was unlikely to have been attributable to his outstanding political achievements, but he had a very good father Xi Zhongxun who gained his good reputation in China due to his speaking boldly in defense of Hu Yaoban who was dismissed from office by the party elders.

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Xi Jinping should be called 'the Bold Xi'. Like his father, Xi Jinping dares to fight recklessly. His father Xi Zhongxun had the guts to scold at a Party meeting all but Deng Xiaoping who plotted for Hu Yaobang's downfall. Like his father, Xi Jinping dared to vanish mysteriously for a short time before the 18th Party Conference. Rumors were rife that it was due to the ousting of Bo Xilai. According to a reliable source, Xi refused to be a puppet of the Party elders, which led to his potential rejection as president during the recent conferences in Beijing. He won as a result. Hu Jintao had neither vision nor boldness, but could merely issue a declaration of surrendering all positions from the 18th Party Conference agenda, which shocked everyone present. Xi is different. Though Xi does not bear much far sighted vision for the nation and the people, he is bold. He dares to withstand the tide of global political democratization in an attempt to realize his dream of the great renaissance of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping made his maiden four-nation diplomatic blitz as the head of state, signing the joint declaration with Russian President Putin. What kind of signal was he sending? Was it for the re-alignment with Russia? Are confrontations with others implied? It is predictable that there is a will to tackle the USA for its influence in Asia.

Xi Jinping sighed in his Southern Tour at the time of the demise of the Soviet Empire that 'there was not even one real man who dared to withstand'. Was Xi's visit to Russia to learn lessons or to preach the experience of the Chinese Communist Party? The CCP under both Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao has always been highly aware of the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and the Eastern European Bloc, trying their utmost not to follow suit. Now Xi Jinping is even more concerned about how to retain absolute political control of the CCP. The visit of Xi Jinping to Russia also sends a message to the world that China and Russia are restoring their former special relationship of comrades plus brotherhood, standing side by side, holding hand in hand to fight against the common enemy, democracy and liberty of the West.

Russia, the first leg of Xi's visit, then three African states, then the BRICS Meeting, demonstrated the future political route and orientation of Xi Jinping's diplomacy. He would be following Mao's footsteps to befriend the Third World and then staunchly confront the ideology of democracy and freedom of the West.

While in Russia, Xi initiated a new theory of "Shoes and feet", meaning that when seeing if the shoes fit the feet or not, only the feet wearing the shoes could discern if the fit is correct. For the same reason, only the Chinese people would have the say about which political system to adopt. If Xi is genuine, he should have the Chinese people in his heart and listen to the people's options of either embracing or dismissing democracy. This is the correct way to put his new theory of "Shoes and Feet" into practice.

There is one thing people should be very clear about. The highest interest in China is that of the Party's interest, definitely not the interest of the nation and its people as the party chiefs always claim. So-called national interests and interests for the people are all chocolate-wrapped deceits of the Chinese rulers, these clichés only serving the purpose of beguiling the wishful people who turn a blind eye and deaf ear to what is happening in China. It is the mindset of the CCP to keep absolute control of the political power for as long as possible. When there is a clash of interests between the people and the Party, all those party leaders would unanimously choose to defend for the party. Any expectation from the CCP to serve the nation and the people of the nation is not realistic, akin to going fishing in the wrong hole. Therefore, wishful people should discard their fanciful high hopes of Xi Jinping.

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The man who successfully accomplishes political reform to lead China out of the dynastical circle will be a great man. To date, Xi Jinping's thoughts have stayed closely within the mindset of the party, and so far it seems that his view of the world and the future is something like a frog at the bottom of a well, able only to see the little patch of sky above. His capabilities and his will seem limited to the single task of how to protect the selfish interests of a handful of CCP political elites, but not the public good of the whole nation and the people living there.

I would like to conclude sadly that Xi Jinping will not be the great man, as so far he has demonstrated that he is not able to stride out from the Chinese inherent dynastical circle.

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About the Author

Dr Chin Jin is a maverick, activist, campaigner, essayist, freelancer, researcher and organizer with the vision to foresee a new post-Chinese Communist regime era that will present more cooperatively, more constructively and more appropriately to the Asia Pacific region and even the world.

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