10 ways Xi Jinping has changed China

Xi Jinping came from the 20th Communist Party Congress with a third leadership term and an all-loyalist Politburo Standing Committee, solidifying his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong.

During Xi’s decade in power, China has seen dramatic domestic and international transformations.

Here are several ways in which China has altered under Xi’s leadership.

The perception of China in the West and US-allied nations has deteriorated

In recent years, US-China ties have deteriorated dramatically, a trend that was accentuated by former US President Donald Trump’s hostile stance toward Beijing. Concerns about human rights and China’s escalating hostility towards Taiwan have also contributed to a worsening of Western opinions.

Xi against Corruption

Upon assuming office, Xi launched a trademark push to root out corruption within the Communist Party, which has proven to be popular with the public and, according to a number of observers, a handy instrument for eliminating political opponents.

Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, all located far from Beijing, have long caused the Chinese Communist Party issues.

The borders were brought under control by Xi’s extraordinary, comprehensive security crackdowns.

In Xinjiang, this entailed the detention of an estimated one million minority Muslim Uyghurs in camps; in Hong Kong, Beijing responded to 2019’s significant anti-government protests with a comprehensive national security bill.

China and Taiwan

Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, all located far from Beijing, have long caused the Chinese Communist Party issues.

The borders were brought under control by Xi’s extraordinary, comprehensive security crackdowns.

In Xinjiang, this entailed the detention of an estimated one million minority Muslim Uyghurs in camps; in Hong Kong, Beijing responded to 2019’s significant anti-government protests with a comprehensive national security bill.

Xi has increased state supervision and guidance of the economy, including a widespread crackdown on the most unfettered areas of the private sector, particularly online platforms and for-profit education.

The era of annual double-digit growth has obviously ended under Xi, since the size of the economy has increased. A rising number of economists warn that China’s investment-heavy, infrastructure-driven strategy is becoming increasingly unsustainable, and that a second recession is imminent.

The space for criticism has been eliminated by Xi’s crackdown on internal critics and protests, while censorship within China’s “Great Firewall” continues to intensify.

The People’s Liberation Army, led by Xi, has been closing the gap with the United States, notably on the high seas, with significant consequences for Taiwanese tensions, as China increases its capability to conquer the island in what some US officials say is a shortening timeframe.

China has become the global leader in the production of electric vehicles and has received praise for its commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, despite its challenges to wean itself from its reliance on coal. China’s air quality has improved dramatically during the previous decade.

Xi identifies the eradication of extreme poverty in China as one of the Party’s most significant accomplishments during the previous decade.

Inequality, notably the disparity between urban and rural incomes, has proven to be a more difficult obstacle, and it remains to be seen whether Xi’s “shared prosperity” strategy can prevent a future growth in inequality as China faces increasing economic headwinds.