Here’s an interesting development. The oldest living Chinese Communist Party official, Song Ping, has taken President Xi to task. From an analysis by Katsuji Nakazawa at Nikkei Asia:
In a congratulatory message for an event on Sept. 12, the centenarian said that the policy of reform and opening-up “has been the only path to the development and progress of contemporary China and the only path to the realization of the Chinese dream.”
These are words that President Xi Jinping himself spoke nearly five years ago. Song cleverly used Xi’s own words to send a message to the top leader.
Xi originally made the remark during his New Year’s address that was released on Dec. 31, 2017, marking the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the reform and opening-up policy by former leader Deng Xiaoping. But Xi has rarely repeated the remark.
More recently, Xi has switched to his own economic policies, such as “common prosperity” and “the prevention of the disorderly expansion of capital.”
Entering his third term, Xi wants to show that he has overtaken Deng in terms of achievements. It is crucial to pave the way for a fourth term and possibly being leader for life.
Song has raised a red flag. Born in 1917, even before the Chinese Communist Party was established, the centenarian has signaled that Deng’s reform and opening-up policy is to be defended at all costs.
It is an undaunted and politically dangerous move.
Read the whole thing. Here’s the conclusion:
Song’s video message was a counterattack against the party’s General Office notice.
The Xi administration’s handling of the Peng scandal, the don’t-oppose notice and Song’s public defense of reform and opening up are closely related.
Shortly, the party will hold its seventh plenary session of the party’s 19th Central Committee where final decisions on the outline of the party’s upcoming 20th Party Congress will be made. These decisions include personnel changes.
Xi took his time before making a public appearance after returning from his trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He should have been busy with preparations for his final showdown with his political foes.
Song’s message, which reflects the structure of the current power struggle in China, is undoubtedly a big headache for Xi.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Song’s admonition carried considerable weight.
I am doubtful of this take about the inner workings of the party. Western speculation on Chinese politics is the most hysterical I have ever seen.
Where the article misses the mark is Xi thinks his policies is “reform”.
China is in a different place from 40 years ago or even 20 years ago. The domestic governance issues that are top of mind are of a different nature — air quality, aging demographics, wealth inequality, an overly competitive education system, excessive speculation in real estate, monopolistic practices by tech platform companies.
There needs to be “reform”; but its not clear the solution is the “free market” or “liberal reforms” — one could argue some of these require stronger regulation/involvement from the state.
Just to emphasize I am not arguing that Xi’s policies are the right ones for these challenges either.