US Media: "Xi Jinping Overturns China's Succession Norms... First Power Consolidation Since Mao Zedong"

WP "Chinese Communist Party Grants Xi Jinping Permanent Rule" Criticism
NYT "China's View on World Order May Become More Aggressive"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Western media, including the United States, evaluated the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which concluded with President Xi Jinping securing a third term, as overturning China's succession norms and completing a one-man rule system and power concentration for the first time since Mao Zedong. Analysts also predict significant changes in domestic politics as well as diplomatic relations in the international community going forward.

On the 22nd (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) described the content of the Chinese Party Congress as "overturning China's succession norms designed to prevent a return to one-man rule." Regarding the composition of the Politburo Standing Committee, the top leadership body, consisting only of Xi's closest aides, WSJ criticized that "it provides clues about how much power Xi will wield and how he will use that power."

WSJ also highlighted the most dramatic moment during the week-long Party Congress as the premature departure of the frail former Chinese President Hu Jintao (79) at the closing ceremony on the 22nd. Regarding Hu Jintao's early exit, the state-run Xinhua News Agency tweeted that "he was not feeling well during the closing ceremony" and "he insisted on attending despite poor health."

The Washington Post (WP), in an article titled "Chinese Communist Party Grants Xi Jinping Permanent Rule," pointed out that "Xi has concentrated power to a level unseen since Mao Zedong's era," and noted that "China's previous leaders institutionalized peaceful power transitions and sought to prevent a return to one-man leadership, but Xi has overturned these standards."

The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that not only Xi Jinping's remarks but also the omissions in his speech at this Party Congress carried significant meaning. While Xi's predecessors emphasized that the upcoming period would be an "important strategic opportunity" for economic growth and used "peace and development" as key themes during the five-yearly Party Congresses, Xi omitted these customary remarks this time, NYT pointed out.

NYT reported that "Xi appears to have judged that global circumstances have become more dangerous due to the United States supporting Taiwan, China's vulnerability to technological bottlenecks, and the growing military presence of Western-led alliances in Asia."

Christopher K. Johnson, head of the China Strategy Group and an expert on Chinese affairs, told NYT in an interview that "there may be a very significant change in how China views the world order," and analyzed that "because Xi expects international conflicts to intensify, he is seeking to further consolidate the regime."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.