Riding a tiger

 

Much ado will be made of revenge on the “century of humiliation” through the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” to achieve the “Chinese Dream” as enunciated in Xi Jinping Thought. (AP)

Riding a tiger is most apt regarding Xi and China as complex problems extending beyond the control of this driven politician who channels Mao 24/7, threaten to undo all the advances this country has accomplished over the past 50 years. From ongoing environmental collapse to a radically shrinking population, the question to ask now is, does Xi have the flexibility and vision to wisely guide China into a future fraught with uncertainties requiring a skill set this man may lack as his nation moves further into the 21 century.

Xi Jinping is ready for self-anointment as the uncrowned king of China for life. His merry band of Communists will sound the fanfare during the forthcoming 20th Party Congress. Much ado will be made of revenge on the “century of humiliation” through the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” to achieve the “Chinese Dream” as enunciated in Xi Jinping Thought. Major achievements under his exalted leadership will be showcased. He will shout from the rooftop that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will be a strong, democratic, civilised, harmonious and modern socialist country and the foremost global power which dominates great power relations by 2049. He will grandstand that despite major challenges and irrespective of the perils of the last mile, a Sino-centric order will be established under his helmsmanship. He and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will portray the delivery of the “Chinese dream” to the people through the greatest military on earth. A vision will be sold in which “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” and state control of institutions makes China a strong economic power along with Xi’s “anti-corruption campaigns”, “common prosperity”, “victory over Covid”, “a new model of win-win in international cooperation” and “dual circulation”.

“Xiconomics” will prevail over the current issues facing China. These will be painted as transitory problems which will be overcome as the middle kingdom emerges as the ordained superpower on earth.

However ... reality differs ...

As Xi Jinping ascends new political heights, the Chinese economy is wracked by his zero Covid policy, real estate crisis, cash-strapped local governments, big tech emasculation, supply chain relocation and global decoupling. Geopolitical and economic headwinds from the Ukraine war and deteriorating relations with the USA, EU nations, India, Japan, South Korea and Australia compound China’s woes. Military assertions against India, Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong and in the South China Sea induce global distrust of China. An unprecedented drought and the spectre of climate change casts a pall over China’s future. The days of heady investment-led economic growth crackling through debt-fuelled infrastructure, high-priced property, high-speed trains, gleaming highways, buzzing hi tech and smoothly purring manufacturing supply chains are over.

And we haven't even discussed the age-old conflict of the haves vs the have-nots as seen by the discrepancy of income and lifestyle between the people living on the coast vs people living in the interior.

One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller