Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)
Stratfor: Xi Jinping's Path for China
Highlights
* Since assuming power, Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken many steps to reshape his country, de-emphasizing growth to build a more sustainable economy and engaging in more proactive diplomacy. He has also been rewriting political rules to establish himself as a strongman.
* But as China's economy slows while the United States escalates its trade attacks, policy debates inside the country are intensifying and testing core pillars of Xi's economic and foreign policies — as well as his own political strength.
* Despite the challenges, China cannot afford to dial back its progress in economic development and global involvement, especially considering its growing strategic competition with the United States.
There seems to be trouble on the horizon for China and President Xi Jinping. A year ago, when I visited my country, I sensed an upbeat attitude about the future, with public and media discourse dominated by discussions of China's meteoric international rise. When I returned this year, however, I sensed uncertainty. The media is engaging in less nationalist rhetoric and has shifted from trumpeting China's ambitious plans to quietly downplaying some of Beijing's starring development programs — such as the Made-in-China 2025 initiative — to avoid drawing more attention from Washington. Within several of the country's academic circles, there are ongoing debates about whether China has overreached in its global expansion and if it should shift to a strategic withdrawal to ease external scrutiny over its rise.
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WNU Editor: All is not rosy for the Chinese President .... Now with power to long rule China, Xi beset by challenges (Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press).
