- President Xi Jinping has assumed complete control of China in past 12 months
- One of Xi’s most applauded moves has been an intensified fight against corruption
- He’s pledged to spare no one regardless of their position or influence
- China has also flexed its military muscles since Xi took control
Beijing (CNN) — At first glance, Chinese President Xi Jinping enters 2014 as the country’s most powerful and popular leader in recent memory.
A year into his expected decade-long reign, he has amassed more titles than his two immediate predecessors.
Heading not only the ruling Communist Party, the 1.5-million strong military and the state, Xi also sits atop two newly created entities with ultimate authority on the most important issues facing the government: a national security council and a leadership group that decides on the course of the country’s “overall reform.”
His star power has soared, too. Xi’s recent visit to a Beijing restaurant for some cheap steamed buns has turned the eatery into an instant shrine — with crowds lining up to snap pictures of the table he sat on and order the so-called “presidential set.”
Even his brief New Year’s address won admiration on social media for its human touch, when viewers noticed family photos in the background featuring his glamorous singer wife.
With all the apparent political capital and personal charisma at his disposal, is Xi strong enough to launch bold reform amid slowing economic growth and rising public discontent? In answering the question, people on opposite ends of the political spectrum are surprisingly united in their skepticism.
Flies and tigers
One of Xi’s most applauded moves since he became the Communist Party chief has been an intensified fight against corruption, a lightning rod for mass discontent across the country. He pledged to target “flies and tigers” alike in describing his resolve to spare no one regardless of their position.
According to state media, some 108,000 officials were disciplined in the first nine months of 2013 and almost 20 minister-level senior officials have fallen from grace since late 2012.
State media has cited the trial and conviction last year of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai — though called politically motivated by Bo supporters — as one prime example of Xi’s determination.
Bo Xilai: From rising star to scandal
China watchers have also detected Han Deqiang, Beihang University
Most noticeably, though, the Chinese military last November declared an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea that includes the disputed islands. Hu Jia, activist
The second three decades started in the late 1970s when late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping launched economic reform and re-opened the country to the outside world — a period marked by breakneck economic growth as well as rising social tensions brought by a widening income gap and rampant corruption.
For Maoists, the “two 30 years” concept appears to be a natural correction to Deng and his successors’ deviation from the orthodox system.
“Chairman Mao is our founding father — rejecting him means the rejection of the regime’s legitimacy,” said Professor Han, who has expressed disapproval of what happened to Bo, a big proponent of reviving Maoism.
“The top leadership has noticed the grassroots support for Maoism and taken action to reaffirm the regime’s foundation.”
Economist Mao holds a more nuanced view. He says Xi has made some progress with reforms amid strong resistance from entrenched interest groups.
“Maoists are his biggest threats because they are against reform and opening-up, which they consider to be a path of capitalist exploitation,” he said. “Why bother reform at all if you don’t thoroughly reject the Maoist ideology?
“So the fundamental questions about Xi remain: What does he stand for? What does he want? What are his values?”
Other than an ambiguous notion of fulfilling the great Chinese Dream, it seems that Xi hasn’t given clear answers to these challenging questions.
And as divisions in Chinese society grow deeper, time may not be on his side — and the future of 1.3 billion people is at stake.
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