Xi Solidifies Party Dominance Over State Apparatus at Two Sessions
The first two days of the Two Sessions saw three developments that more firmly entrenched the Party’s domination over the state government.
POLITICS
Politics Watch: Early Analysis of the CCP Fourth Plenum
◎ The outcome of the Fourth Plenum suggests that it unfolded as we previously analyzed.
Politics Watch: How the CCP is Nullifying the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act
◎ When faced with popular uprisings or protests, the CCP typically resorts to the seemingly counterintuitive move of inciting the demonstrators or an entire population to violence.
Politics Watch: Exposé of CCP Elite Before Delayed Fourth Plenum Hints at Three-way Struggle
◎ CCP factional struggles are “you die, I live” and revolve around the preservation of interests and political legacies.
Politics Watch: Signs of Political Compromise and Crisis Surface as the PRC Marks its 70th Anniversary
◎ Why did Xi Jinping honor both Mao Zedong and a prominent Mao critic as part of the PRC’s 70th anniversary celebrations? We examine this and other signs.
Politics Watch: The CCP Faces an Ideological Battle in Hong Kong
◎ Songs have the power to become strong rallying calls for protest movements.
Politics Watch: Why the Hong Kong Extradition Bill was Withdrawn and What it Means for the Future
◎ Carrie Lam has technically not made any concessions yet to the protesters.
Politics Watch: Why Xi is Warning of ‘Risks and Challenges,’ Wants ‘Struggle Spirit’ from CCP Cadres
◎ Xi is making things very hard for himself and the PRC by defaulting to Party orthodoxy.
Politics Watch: Fourth Plenum Timing and Agenda Confirm Political Crisis in China
◎ It is becoming increasingly clear that the Sino-U.S. trade agreement has placed the Xi leadership in a Catch-22 situation.
Politics Watch: Beijing’s Struggles with CCP Orthodoxy and Factional Fighting Bode Ill for Hong Kong and the Trade Deal
◎ The Hong Kong protesters and the CCP are on course for a disastrous collision.