The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched President Xi Jinping Historical Resolution during their latest meeting, cementing his legacy in the People’s Republic of China and ensuring he remains in power for years to come. Historical is an accurate term since it is only the third time such a resolution has been implemented in the country’s history. The first Historical Resolution, passed in 1945, helped China’s founding father Mae Zedong consolidate his leadership so he had full authority in creating a new government.[1] The second Historical Resolution, passed in 1981, was also implemented by a giant in China’s history, Deng Xiaoping. In his resolution, Deng openly criticized Mae Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and paved the way for China’s economic reforms.[2] In both instances, the resolutions were used to open a new era for the Chinese government and promote the respective leader’s powers.
Xi Jinping has read his famous predecessor’s political playbooks and is following in their footsteps. His document not only addresses China’s key achievements in the past, but it paints a picture of the future. One where Xi Jinping plays a major role. The resolution’s passing comes only 3 years after China scrapped the two-term limit on the presidency, essentially allowing Xi to remain President for life. His Historical Resolution capitalizes on the opportunity by pledging to, “resolutely uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee’ authority and its centralized, unified leadership to ensure that all Party members act in unison”.[3] Again, this is a culmination of political moves made by Xi over the last few years. Recently, he added his own personal ideology to the CCP where it will intertwine with China’s national agenda until at least 2035.[4] Often times Xi places himself at the front and center of the CCP’s campaigns as to not miss out on the praise and power. Essentially, for years Xi Jinping has been setting himself to serve as President of China for life using calculated political moves.
Xi’s ambition does not end there however. The President of China also wants to consolidate and tighten his grip on power and his Historical Resolution accelerates this process. Recently, he has requested absolute loyalty from all 95 million CCP members. All while pushing the CCP to reassert a dominate role in all aspects of Chinese society, while cracking down on the private sector.[5] Xi has been more confrontational both domestically and internationally during his reign and seeks more power to face such challenges. Experts believe that Xi will ride the momentum from the Historical Resolution into next year when he will ask for more power during a leadership reshuffle of the CCP.[6]
Lastly, Xi used his Historical Resolution as a platform to applaud his past successes and to cement his legacy. It states that under Xi, the CCP has, “solved many tough problems that were long on the agenda but never resolved, and accomplished many things that were wanted but never got done.”[7] So not only is he heavily praised but Xi becomes only the third Chinese leader to issue such a staggering resolution, along with Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong. This allows the Chinese people to remember Xi on the same level as past Presidential heroes.
The future is set up well for the potential lifelong President of China. China has beat out any regional rivals, is showing its economic dominance in the global political economy, and has a national agenda/national leadership plan for decades to come. The future of China is in the hands of Xi Jinping, and he knows it.
[1] Yip, Waiyee. “China’s Xi Jinping Cements His Status with Historic Resolution.” BBC News. BBC, November 12, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-59229935.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Lockwood, Pauline, and Yong Xiong. “Chinese Communist Party Passes Landmark Resolution Celebrating Leader Xi Jinping.” CNN. Cable News Network, November 11, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/11/asia/xi-jinping-ccp-resolution-intl/index.html.
[4] Shepherd, Christian. “China Passes History Resolution to Enshrine Open-Ended Rule of Xi Jinping.” The Washington Post. WP Company, November 11, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-plenum-xi-history/2021/11/11/4d7909ea-3e05-11ec-bd6f-da376f47304e_story.html.
[5] Lockwood, Pauline, and Yong Xiong. “Chinese Communist Party Passes Landmark Resolution Celebrating Leader Xi Jinping.” CNN. Cable News Network, November 11, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/11/asia/xi-jinping-ccp-resolution-intl/index.html.
[6] Shepherd, Christian. “China Passes History Resolution to Enshrine Open-Ended Rule of Xi Jinping.” The Washington Post. WP Company, November 11, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-plenum-xi-history/2021/11/11/4d7909ea-3e05-11ec-bd6f-da376f47304e_story.html.
[7] Lockwood, Pauline, and Yong Xiong. “Chinese Communist Party Passes Landmark Resolution Celebrating Leader Xi Jinping.” CNN. Cable News Network, November 11, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/11/asia/xi-jinping-ccp-resolution-intl/index.html.
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