For this episode of Talking Geopolitics, we turn our attention to China, where President Xi Jinping has been busy intensifying a crackdown on high-ranking officials. But although China’s president may seem like a permanent feature on the global stage, a shaky Chinese economy and circling rivals means that his rule is far from secure. Geopolitical…
Lately, a wave of speculation has emerged in Western media asking whether Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping is losing his grip. Faced with rising youth unemployment, elite disaffection and a deteriorating administrative apparatus, it’s tempting to believe the Chinese leader is on the way out. But this narrative, while seductive, fundamentally misreads the…
House Republicans have urged seven US universities to cut ties with a Chinese scholarship programme that lawmakers call a “nefarious mechanism” to steal technology for the Chinese government. In letters to Dartmouth College, the University of Notre Dame and five other universities, leaders of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party raised concerns…
By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -American officials have quietly been grading Chinese artificial intelligence programs on their ability to mold their output to the Chinese Communist Party’s official line, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters. U.S. State and Commerce Department officials are working together on the effort, which operates by feeding the programs standardized…
There has been a lot of talk online and in politics about Xi Jinping stepping down. A short absence from the public eye, ongoing military purges, and missing a key BRICS summit have only added to the rumors. Why is there so much uncertainty around Xi Jinping’s future? The fact that Xi Jinping hasn’t been…
For over a decade, president Xi Jinping has stood unchallenged at the pinnacle of Chinese power, his grip over the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the state likened to that of an emperor. Sweeping purges, restructured institutions and a cult of personality have cemented his position as the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Yet,…
Read the full story on The Auto Wire Ford CEO Jim Farley Yet Again Praises Chinese Automakers Ford CEO Jim Farley has once again praised Chinese automakers, in particular how they manufacture EVs. One has to seriously wonder why the guy is in his position and not working for Geely or Great Wall if he…
The 17th Brics summit has begun in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are in attendance. However, for the first time since taking power in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the meet. His absence has now given rise to rumours that a political transition…
For China, the early- to mid-20th century was a time marked by political and social upheaval. It began with the Xinhai Revolution, which saw the end of the imperial system, before the Second Sino-Japanese War rocked the nation. The Chinese Communist Revolution and Cultural Revolution signified massive political and social shifts. In 1949, after the…
Chinese President Xi Jinping, widely regarded as a leader for life, is beginning to delegate authority to key organs of the ruling Communist Party, a first in his over 12-year rule. Xi’s move sparked speculation that he may be laying the groundwork for an orderly power transition or scaling back his role in preparation for…