XI’S PURSUIT OF NATIONAL SECURITY
Beijing’s priorities are strengthening national security and more importantly, ensuring the stability of the Chinese Communist Party.
Since 2012, Mr Xi has gone on the offensive in his pursuit of domestic security while significantly limiting the ability of foreign forces to influence China. From political purges to corruption witch hunts, censorship of information deemed unfavourable to Beijing and wolf warrior diplomacy, Mr Xi hopes to project the face of a strong and uncompromising Chinese state.
This is not unexpected given the perception that party discipline was lax under the policies of his predecessor Hu Jintao and those in power were mostly interested in individual pursuit of wealth and power without a broader commitment to the country’s well-being.
As described by journalist Wong Chun Han in his book Party Of One, Mr Xi is motivated primarily by “historical grievances and a sense of civilisational destiny” and that his China is “brash but brittle, intrepid yet insecure … a would-be superpower in a hurry, eager to take on the world while wary of what may come”.
This was mostly acutely seen in China’s response to the Trump tariffs. Beijing refused to concede an inch when slapped with a 125 per cent “reciprocal” tariff, and in turn raised levies on US imports and placed restrictions on American movies.
Beijing’s bet was American companies and industries could not stomach the short-term pain of financial losses as a result of restricted access to Chinese markets.
Both countries were proven right: The temperature was eventually dialled down as both Washington and Beijing rolled back their tariff policies.
However, it seems that the Trump administration is now opening a new front in its battle with China in the field of education, as seen by its ban on visas given to Chinese students. It remains to be seen how Beijing will respond.
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