China Power | Politics | East Asia

Xi Jinping’s Paradox of Political Control

There is an unresolved tension between Xi’s growing ability to punish dissent and continued problems of political unreliability.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping addresses Chinese and foreign journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the 20th Party Congress, Oct 23, 2022.

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fifth Plenum, held on October 26–29, offered important insights into General Secretary Xi Jinping’s evolving system of political control. Its decision on “comprehensive and strict party governance” underscores how the institutionalization of continuous political rectification has become a hallmark of Xi’s rule.

The Fifth Plenum is significant for three reasons. First, it consolidates “Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building” (XJTPB) as an authoritative framework for CCP governance. Second, it embeds continuous political rectification within the party’s governing institutions. Third, it exposes an unresolved tension between the party’s enhanced capacity to punish misconduct and the continuation of problems of political reliability, information distortion, and delegated authority.

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The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fifth Plenum, held on October 26–29, offered important insights into General Secretary Xi Jinping’s evolving system of political control. Its decision on “comprehensive and strict party governance” underscores how the institutionalization of continuous political rectification has become a hallmark of Xi’s rule.

The Fifth Plenum is significant for three reasons. First, it........

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