What else will Xi Jinping do to maintain his power within the Chinese Communist Party?
Xi Jinping seeks dominance at home and abroad but finds he has achieved neither:
China is and will continue to be a significant country, but it is far from being able to challenge the United States. Xi miscalculated the importance of U.S. markets and capital and the willingness of the U.S. to deploy major force against China.
All this happened on Xi’s watch. He was superb at claiming premature victories in the domestic economy and global relations. He convinced the Chinese people of what he wanted them to believe. In such circumstances, a change of government would be inevitable and routine. But Xi is unable or unwilling to step aside. ... Xi’s enemies may well believe that he sees all and has the power to stop them, but that simply motivates them to be more effective. Xi can’t resign or admit failure. So ministers must disappear, and former presidents must be removed from meetings in sight of the world.
Xi has been pushing abroad and at home as he continues to concentrate power. But the assortment of communists around him have doubts about his wisdom and whether he has deviated from the true path.
What will Xi do in response? What will those around Xi do from fear of him?
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
