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: Decoding the CCP Propaganda Shift on China, America, and Trade
◎ The CCP is adjusting its propaganda to lay the foundation for subsequent trade negotiations with America.
Politics Watch: Civil Servant Wages Delayed as Local Gov’t Revenue Falls
◎ The CCP would find it increasingly difficult to exert control over Chinese society if it cannot pay civil servants.
Politics Watch: Rumor of Leadership Change in Hainan Hints at Hastening of Opening Up
◎ According to reports, Guangdong mayor Ma Xingrui was recently in Hainan Province making preparations to take over the post of Party secretary.
Politics Watch: Anbang’s Wu Xiaohui Appeal Hints at Fierce CCP Internal Struggle
◎ Wu Xiaohui was a “white glove” for many Party elites.
Politics Watch: After Sino-US Trade Talks, China Announces Plans to Open Up Telecom, Financial, Legal Services
◎ Beijing would find that it cannot cut the trade deficit only through importing U.S. goods.
Geopolitics Watch: Why is North Korea Canceling South Korean Talks, Threatening Trump-Kim Summit?
◎ North Korea’s “shock” move is hardly surprising.
Politics Watch: Wang Qishan Gets New Foreign Affairs Role Amid Sino-US Trade Tensions
◎ Wang Qishan is the third-ranking member of the CCP Foreign Affairs Commission.
Geopolitics Watch: Reading Trump’s ZTE Tweet, Sino-US Trade, and North Korea
◎ Trump’s ZTE tweet suggests that our read of America and China making good progress in trade talks is correct.
Geopolitics Watch: On Xi, Kim, Dalai Lama, North Korea, and the Sino-US Trade Talks
◎ The Trump administration still has cards to play to keep pressuring the CCP.