Xi Jinping’s speech to mark the centenary of the Chinese Communist Youth League this week was meant to inspire a generation’s dedication to the ruling Party — but also to shape the dominant view of history in favor of the general secretary’s continued power.
Alibaba stock was driven down sharply last week by furious online speculation stemming from a mysterious state media report. It’s time, some said afterward, to reform to the national system of Party-state driven news releases, which encourages a culture of error and secrecy.
As Xi Jinping has signaled that he will permit no compromise on China’s “dynamic zero” covid policy, despite the dramatic failures evident in the city of Shanghai, an old revolutionary phrase has come to signal his resolve.
The phrase “not forgetting the original intention,” first raised by Xi Jinping during his July 1, 2016, speech to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, could also be translated “staying true to our original aspiration.” The phrase conveys the idea that the original aspiration and founding mission of the Party, and its source of legitimacy, is to work for the happiness and well-being of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of China. The term, which rose to greater prominence following its inclusion in Xi’s political report to the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2017, can also refer to the need for a clean and uncorrupt Party, and has frequently been cited as a work requirement for cadres. Appearing alongside other terms denoting Xi’s power and dominance, the phrase suggest Xi is the ultimate keeper of the Party’s mission and intention.
The “Four Comprehensives” was a set of political goals laid out by Xi Jinping in 2014 as an ideological directive for governance looking ahead to 2020, the first of which was the “building of a moderately well-off society.” With the formal achievement of the first of the four “comprehensives” by last quarter of 2020, which became the focus of Party-state propaganda, the formula was changed during the CCP’s Fifth Plenum in October 2020.
The “Ten Definites” is a political catchphrase that encompasses a range of key points of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) doctrine and governance priorities in the Xi Jinping Era, defining the key terms and goals of the ruling ideology of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era. Previously comprising just “Eight Definites” introduced in 2017, the phrase serves both as a summary of priorities and an affirmation of the leadership role of Xi Jinping as the CCP’s “core,” under his banner phrase “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era,” also introduced in 2017. Generally leading the list of definites is the basic assertion, admitting no question, that the leadership of the CCP is the core character of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
Facing criticism ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese government has repeatedly criticized what it calls the “politicization of sports.” But China’s own words and actions make it patently clear that its leaders, determined to tell a one-sided “China story” at the expense of diverse voices, see these Games through a self-serving political lens.
The president of the CCP’s Xinhua News Agency has been formally appointed as the head of China’s national association for journalists, an important layer in official controls on the media. What does this mean? More of the same.
After serving for more than 15 years as the controversial editor-in-chief of the Global Times, China’s most outspoken newspaper on foreign affairs, Hu Xijin announced his retirement on Weibo today. Other sources say his departure has been compelled — and that there are moves underway to strengthen “political guidance” at the newspaper.
“Party spirit,” or dangxing (党性), is a Chinese translation of a Russian term from Marxism-Leninism that has been transliterated as “Partiinost,” and would generally be translated into English as “party-mindedness,” “partisanship” or “partyness.” The term is widely used today in the sphere of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) discourse, where its core meaning concerns adherence to the “correct” political direction, aligned with the Party’s priorities, and standing firmly with its ideology, lines and policies. Assertions of “party spirit” are generally iterated when the concern is to protect the regime and the position of the CCP. Under Xi Jinping, it has returned as a term of importance also in emphasizing CCP controls on information.