Xi Jinping becomes most powerful leader since Mao

After a change was made in China's constitution, Xi Jinping was set on a course for indefinite power, after pledging to lead country into a 'new era'

Souvenir plates of Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping on sale during the 19th party congress in Beijing (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters)
Souvenir plates of Mao Zedong and Xi Jinping on sale during the 19th party congress in Beijing (Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Xi Jinping has been consecrated as China’s most powerful leader, since Mao Zedong, following a new body of political thought carrying his name was added to the Communist party’s constitution.

The move came on the final day of a week-long political summit in Beijing – the 19th party congress – during which Xi pledged to lead the world’s second largest economy into a “new era” of international power and influence.

At a closing ceremony in the Mao-era Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, it was announced that Xi’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was written into the party charter.

“The congress unanimously agrees that Xi Jinping Thought … shall constitute [one of] the guides to action of the party in the party constitution,” a party resolution stated.

In a brief address to over 2,200 delegates, Xi said: “Today we, more than 1.3bn Chinese people, live in jubilation and dignity. Our land ... radiates with enormous dynamism. Our Chinese civilisation shines with lasting splendour and glamour.”

“Our party shows strong, firm and vibrant leadership. Our socialist system demonstrates great strength and vitality. The Chinese people and the Chinese nation embrace brilliant prospects,” Xi added. 

The communist party of China was founded in 1921, with just one leader, Mao, being honoured in such a way while still alive, in his case with a political philosophy called Mao Zedong Thought.

Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s economic opening, also boasts a school of eponymous ideology in the party charter, Deng Xiaoping Theory, but it was included posthumously, in 1997.

The publisher of the Sinocism newsletter on Chinese politics, Bill Bishop, said that the birth of Xi Jinping Thought confirmed the rare levels of prestige and power enjoyed by Xi.

 “It means Xi is effectively unassailable … If you challenge Xi, you are challenging the party – and you never want to be against the party.”

Jude Blanchette, an expert in Chinese politics from New York’s Conference Board research group, said: “This is about amassing power and credibility and legitimacy and authority within the system to drive through more effectively what he sees as the right path for China.

“If you tower above the party, then it is very difficult for anyone below you to decide they don’t want to implement your commands.”

Xi, who took power in 2012 and was expected to step down in 2022, is likely to rule into the next decade, said Australia’s former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

“Five years ago I said he would be China’s most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping. I was wrong. He is now China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong,” Rudd said.

Susan Shirk, on the other hand, head of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California, disputed Xi’s portrayal as an almighty figure.

“He’s ruling differently, for sure, and people are intimidated by him because of the anti-corruption campaign.” But Shirk said she was reserving judgment on whether Xi was attempting “a real dictatorial play” until the new line-up of China’s top ruling council, the politburo standing committee, was announced on Wednesday.

If that committee included at least one of three possible successors – Hu Chunhua, Chen Min’er or Zhang Qingwei – that would signal Xi’s intention to step down in 2022, she said. If no clear successor emerged, however, it would fuel fears that Xi was “going for broke, all-out to be a dictator” and planned to remain in power indefinitely.

 

Xi has been the focus of songs of praise, since congress began last week.

The party chief of Xinjiang hailed his leader’s teachings, as “intellectually incisive, visionary and magnificent”. Jilin province’s party boss, Bayanqolu, went even further. “General Secretary Xi Jinping is … the party’s helmsman,” he said, using a term often used to hail Mao.

Blanchette said that these displays of loyalty were “a striking indication of just how singular the party is under Xi”.

He added: “We are not at the point, like in the Cultural Revolution, where mangoes that Mao Zedong touched are worshipped. But we are certainly seeing a movement towards a new type of politics … one that is borrowing heavily from [the Mao era].”

On Tuesday, Xi pitched himself as the leader of a “sacred” mission to restore China to its rightful place in the world. 

“Living in such a great era, we are all the more confident and proud, and also feel the heavy weight of responsibility upon us,” he said. “We must have the courage and resolve to build on the historic achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Chinese Communists generation after generation, create new accomplishments befitting this great epoch and stride forward to an ever promising future.” 

In an editorial published shortly after Xi’s closing address, the party’s official news agency, Xinhua, said that the advent of Xi Thought underlined how China was rising “like never before”.

“China is set to regain its might and re-ascend to the top of the world,” it boasted. “Those expecting China to fall will be disappointed. Finger pointing and questioning the legitimacy of the Chinese way are of no avail. It is time to understand China’s path, because it appears it will continue to triumph.”