Rizal Philippines
October 25, 2015
From Quora - Xi Jinping rise to power
As we describe our life story, our leadership journey, so too the head of the President Xi Jinping 2nd or most powerful richest country in the world, has a journey towards leadership. His life story and his current situation is illustrative of what a leader went through or will pursue.
His life is journey to leadership/power is described a length at New Yorker (born red) and featured at BBC today.
In the ancient times, to rule China the emperor must wage constant war vs warring clans and belligerent territories. China too at times must suffer being a colony of the invaders like Huns, Mongols and even the likes of Alexander the great. With a very large territory that borders Russia, Southeast Asia and and Nepal. the leader must use naked power to lead and rule.
As it was then and now, to rule China a country of 1.3 billion, one must be clever, astute and powerful. So with the current President and Chairman of the Communist Party of China. President Xi Jinping
He is the 6th man to rule the Communist Party of China, and now considered to be the most powerful, even more powerful than the Chairman Mao. He is the son of man who served as Vice Chairman but later was persecuted and jailed. He was sent to a work in a farm when he was fifteen where he experienced hardships and difficulties. (It was mythologized as a cave - perhaps in reference to Campbell) He stands at 5'11" and therefore taller than most previous leaders
He later, despite the persecution of his father rejoined the Party, after having been rejected several times. He became Redder than Red. It was a time that he was said to be "reborn" He was assigned at various provincial assignment as Provincial Party Secretary. During those stint, as Party Members are wont to do, he campaigned for the China Dream (just like the American dream) "great rejuvenation of the nation a mixture of prosperity and unification" These provincial stints educated him on the realities of political infighting, and toughened him as a boss and in wielding power
His strategy to climb back to the top was simple - not to offend many, to be low key and silent. His work in China provinces earned him the respect of top party leaders. To earn the respect of party leaders and populace, he was known to work for the benefits of soldiers, wear fatigue uniforms, and even gave the villa assigned to him as home for veterans But he was known to disdain luxury and corruption and has been known, as the new President to punish the offenders.
He has travelled abroad and even stayed at the house of family in Iowa. The family never had the idea that he would be a China President. He has western taste favoring business more than politics.
He joined the Central Committee in 2012, and was appointed as President in 2014
His strategy to seize consolidate power:
1. At the time of Mao, he had collective leadership but which he later violated. It was continued with the predecessors. However, t;his has resulted in smugness of the party and corruption. Xi consolidated his power by being head of many departments - he is head of the judiciary, military, and other committees in charge of reforms. He said to be head of least 10 government functions.
2. He neutralizes the action of his opponent by campaign vs corruption. Hundred thousands civil and public servants were investigated and punished. Those related to former vice chairman and son of former president were investigated. The public supports such a campaign thus he gets stronger.
3. In pursuit of his dream, he wants China whose future will be dictated by US
4. To achieve the China dreams, there must be discipline so that the idea of democratic China is anathema. Thus internet censorship, HK crackdown is expected. He expressed the idea to VP Biden of US. Just as Biden or Obama, talks about democracy in their election campaign to rise to power, so too in the Chinese politics that democracy can not be accepted. Democracy in HK and so with others movements the dissidents protesters are likely to fail. China can not succeed with democracy. (As we see in Iraq now)
5. He wants a stronger China thus supports greater military spending. And the West Philippine sea event is part of China flexing its muscle.
6. To avoid smugness at the Party Level, he is promoting innovation
He is a princeling (descendants of the Red Guards and the participants in the China Revolution) and thus live with the concept of entitlement, ie that they are entitled to rule over China. And Xi is just doing that.
His problem though is a slowdown of Chinese economy and the stock market collapse of Shanghai. This is something that faces him as a challenge, and to pursue as part of achieving the Chinese dream. He and the rest of the world can not afford China to fail
The problems of China today is not unique. President Xi faces a difficult task ahead of him. Alot of leaders before him had the same dilema. But even more so now, with the world being smaller through social media and the web. Needless to say, China and Pres. Xi have a difficult times ahead. But I believe thier outlook is good.bec of strong leadership and great patriotism.
ReplyDelete