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Strong, not a strongman
The big news coming out of the plenum was Xi’s designation as “core” of the Party leadership, a title used to describe Mao, Deng and Jiang, but famously not applied to Xi’s immediate predecessor Hu Jintao.
Most commentators and analysts fretting over the new “core” designation see it as the end of the collective leadership system. It is, they argue, a sure sign that Xi is heading towards strongman rule in the vein of Putin (or Mao).
This analysis strikes me as wildly off base. First of all, being “the core” does not automatically confer unlimited power. Mao is the only PRC leader to ever wield truly unchecked power; Xi is nowhere near achieving the same God-like status. Even if Xi wanted similar reverence (which he doesn’t), I cannot envision a scenario in which either the Party or society at large would grant it.
More appropriate is to look at the other two “cores”: Deng and Jiang. Neither had unlimited power. People seem to forget that Deng was constantly embattled, often trying to strike a balance between reformers and conservatives, and always needing to bring along the other seven of the Eight Elders.
As I have argued before (see CPW no. 100), in most respects, Jiang Zemin is the most instructive comparison for understanding Xi. The same is true with respect to the new “core” designation. Jiang was declared “core” upon assumption of the role of General Secretary in 1989, but the use of the term did not become widespread until he began his second full term in 1997. The achievements of Jiang’s final term (1997-2002) as General Secretary are truly impressive: wide-scale SOE reforms, reconstitution of the Party (through the Three Represents), and a fundamental redefinition of the Party’s role (becoming a “governing party” as opposed to a “revolutionary party”). Yet even given these momentous achievements, it would be difficult to describe Jiang as all-powerful.
Likewise, just because Xi is now “core”, it does not mean that his power is suddenly unchecked. He has clearly enhanced his authority, but doing so through the formal process and approval of the plenum shows that even Xi is still bound by Party rules and norms.
Rule maker not breaker
New titles aside, the plenum has shown again just how dedicated Xi is to rules and institutions. As I pointed out last week, Xi’s entire political project revolves around strengthening Party regulations and ensuring their enforcement. It was no surprise, therefore, that the plenum’s primary goal was to “strengthen and standardize” the Party’s political life. Fundamental to achieving this is making sure that Party members adhere to the Party’s constitution and internal regulations. Over the past few years, Xi has tweaked many of these rules, but he has not fundamentally rewritten them. In a word, he is enhancing Party institutions, not eroding them.
The Party’s leader
Another reason to be skeptical of all the strongman commentary is the fact that Xi’s designation as “core” is clearly supported by many within the Party elite. If there were widespread opposition to the “core” appellation within the Central Committee, it would not have been adopted. It is instructive to look at what Propaganda Department Vice Head (and Xi loyalist) Huang Kunming said when asked about the “core” at a press conference following the Plenum:
“Xi Jinping’s assumption of core status reflects the consensus of the Party…At the recently concluded plenum, the Central Committee were unanimous in endorsing the formal adoption of ‘comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee’”.
Of course, one should take Party propaganda with a grain of salt; I am sure that the decision was not “unanimous”. But the larger point – that a large number of senior Party members are on board with the decision – seems indisputable.
A further look at Huang’s statements provide clues as to why there is support for Xi within the Party. Huang repeats the formulation in the Plenum communique that states “for a country and for a political party, the leading core is vitally important”. He goes on to explain, “We have come to this understanding through profound experience.”
This “experience” is the lost decade of Hu Jintao, a period of weak central authority. The results were an erosion of Party discipline and the resulting inability of the center to effectively carry out policy. This lack of central authority is at the heart of many of China’s most pressing problems, from corruption to overcapacity to inequality to an unprepared military. Xi’s designation as “core” is part of an effort to recentralize power in order to better address these issues.
Necessary but not sufficient
Xi’s growing power does not in and of itself ensure better governance outcomes. It must also be complemented with good policy. Here, particularly when it comes to economic policy, Xi has failed to deliver. Despite increasingly spirited debates about economic policy, and the increasing momentum of supply-side reforms, Xi has yet to articulate a clear, coherent and comprehensive economic agenda.
Xi apologists argue that his failure to adequately address the economy is in large part due to his focus on power consolidation and Party-building. With the major work in both of these areas looking to be near completion, let’s hope that Xi will now address the economy.
| PBSC Week in Review | ||
| Xi Jinping
Party General Secretary; PRC |
Oct 28 | Xi chaired a meeting of the Politburo.
Reviewed Q3 economic results. |
| President; Chairman of Central Military | Xi sent a congratulatory letter to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. | |
| Commission | Oct 24-27 | Xi attended and spoke at the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| Xi extended condolences to Cameroon President Paul Biya over a deadly train derailment.
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| Li Keqiang
Premier |
Oct 28 | Li chaired and spoke a meeting of the State Council studying the spirit of the Sixth Plenum.
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| Li sent a written instruction to a meeting commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
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| Oct 24-27 | Li attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| Zhang Dejiang
Chair of the National People’s |
Oct 28 | Zhang chaired and spoke at a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee studying the spirit of the Sixth Plenum.
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| Congress | Zhang held talks with New Zealand Parliament Speaker David Carter.
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| Oct 24-27 | Zhang attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| Yu Zhengsheng
Chair of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative |
Oct 28 | Yu chaired and spoke at a meeting of the leading Party group of the National Committee of the CPPCC.
The meeting called on political advisory bodies at all levels to carefully study and implement decisions of the 6th Plenum.
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| Conference | Oct 24-27 | Yu attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| Liu Yunshan
Head of Party Secretariat; Head |
Oct 24-27 | Liu attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| of Propaganda | ||
| Wang Qishan
Secretary of the Central Commission for |
Oct 24-27 | Wang attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| Discipline Inspection | ||
| Zhang Gaoli
Executive Vice Premier |
Oct 24-27 | Zhang attended the Sixth Plenum of the CCP.
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| About CPW
China Politics Weekly aims to keep business leaders, investors, diplomats, scholars and other China hands up to date on important trends in China. It is produced by Trey McArver, a London-based consultant providing advice and intelligence to firms and investors engaged in China and the region. You can find out more about Trey and CPW in this interview.
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