The forthcoming CCP meet may ratify the decision of Parliament to amend the constitution allowing leaders to serve beyond the age of 68, thus paving the way for Xi Jinping to remain in power for another five or 10 years, or even longer
The Chinese media calls Xi Jinping, 69, a ‘Lingxiu’ or the Leader, thus declaring him the unquestioned ‘emperor’ of the Middle Kingdom as he seeks the party’s mandate for remaining in power till he breathes his last. His admirers believe that he, perhaps, is keen to witness his dream of ensuring China’s rise as the only super power on the earth during his tenure as the ruler.
Xi Jinping had already initiated the groundwork for the extension of his tenure in 2018. It was a part of his strategy for keeping himself in power by getting the country’s basic law, the Constitution, amended in Parliament, and also crowding the party’s central organisations with his ‘favourites’. He is expected to be anointed as the life-time president by a ‘docile’ leadership at the 20th Congress meet of the Communist Party of China (CCP) on Sunday, October 16, this year. He is keen to be remembered like the legendary leader, Mao Zedong.
Since time immemorial, China, like Egypt, is called the Middle Kingdom. The Chinese consider themselves as ‘invincible’ people. In the contemporary world, European travellers found China, a region full of unexplained mysteries and customs. They also endorsed the Chinese people that their country is a beautiful place. It was also named Zhōngguó or the central beauty. For most of the Chinese people, it is Shenzhou, a divine land. The Portuguese sailors perhaps called it China. For them, its social and political systems remain shrouded in mystery, and so the contemporary political developments.
During the past 10 years, Xi Jinping’s assertive nationalist postures connecting the people with their glorious past might have been adding to his popularity. It is hoped his leadership would be unanimously endorsed in the forthcoming party meet.
At present, the world’s attention is focused on the political developments in China. Whether Xi gets his tenure, or whether gets consigned to the dustbin of history, only time will tell. With the Chinese economy achieving phenomenal successes in recent years, it is no surprise that the eyes of political analysts and world leaders are riveted on the ongoing political developments in the country. China overtook the economy of the European Union in 2021. A forecast states that China will become the world’s largest economy by 2028. It may be recalled that in 1987, the GDP of India and China was almost equal; but in 2021, China’s GDP was 5.46 times higher than that of India. China crossed the $1 trillion mark in 1998, while India crossed it nine years later in 2007. Therefore, political developments in China may cast their shadow on most prosperous countries. So it is natural for the world media to keep a close watch on the country’s political developments, especially the outcome of the forthcoming party congress.
