China's Communist Party leaders endorsed a resolution this week, paving the way for President Xi Jinping to rule for an unprecedented third term and solidifying his position as the party's most powerful figure since Mao Zedong.
As they concluded a four-day leadership meeting in Beijing, members of the party's Central Committee declared Xi Jinping Thought to embody the "essence of Chinese culture." According to a statement, his political ideology was "critical" to "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
They voted in favor of a "historical resolution," the third time such a motion has been adopted. Previous resolutions were introduced under Mao's and Deng Xiaoping's administrations, rewriting party history and ideology in their image and protecting their legacies.
While the language of the latest resolution has not been revealed, a communiqué released late Thursday night indicates that it places Mr. Xi. He took office in 2012, on a par with Mao as a transformational figure capable of leading China to the future grandeur.
Mr. Xi's ability to pass such a resolution demonstrates his full grip over the Communist Party, as he appears set to defy precedent and seek a third five-year term as leader. Term constraints on his presidency were lifted in 2018, signaling his intention to continue, and no obvious successor has been groomed or promoted to a prominent position, as has historically occurred.
Apart from praising Mr. Xi personally, the communiqué lauded Beijing's actions on various fronts, including its "firm implementation of 'patriots rule Hong Kong'" and its "resolute opposition to Taiwan separatists."
"In foreign affairs, we have advanced on all fronts major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics," the communiqué stated. "Through tenacious struggle, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have demonstrated to the world that the Chinese nation has transformed from standing and prospering to becoming strong."
Next week, Mr. Xi is scheduled to meet via video link with US Vice President Joe Biden, the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Biden assumed office this year. Washington officials have been urging for months for such a summit but have been hampered by Mr. Xi's refusal to leave China during the outbreak.
"Both China and the United States realize the importance of direct, leader-level diplomacy. US authorities have concluded that Chinese diplomats lack the authority to engage in serious discussions in light of Xi's concentrated leadership," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analysts Paul Haenle and Nathaniel Sher wrote this week.
This week, there were hints of thawing when US and Chinese climate envoys John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua announced an agreement to increase cooperation on climate change, including decreasing methane emissions, phasing out coal consumption, and eliminating illegal deforestation.
"There is more agreement than divergence between the United States and China on climate change, making it an area with enormous potential for our cooperation," Mr. Xie said. "China and the United States, as two big powers, share international responsibilities and obligations. We need to consider the big picture."
Mr. Xi, on the other hand, was less conciliatory in his Thursday address to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in New Zealand, criticizing US policy in the Asia-Pacific region and warning that it "cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era."
Mr. Xi appeared to be referring to the new AUKUS alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which included a new arrangement to supply Canberra with nuclear-powered submarines, as well as enhanced involvement by Washington with the Quad grouping of India, Japan, and Australia.
Washington's uninvited maneuvering could be a significant point of discussion for the Xi-Biden summit. According to Mr. Haenle and Mr. Sher, Mr. Xi's focus will be on persuading the US President to restore the status quo ante and ease diplomatic and economic pressure on China.
Mr. Biden, for his part, is likely to confront Mr. Xi on the Taiwan problem, following China's frequent aircraft flights near the democratically-ruled island and threats to seize it militarily. He could potentially bring up matters such as the ongoing repression in Hong Kong and allegations of genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Still, Beijing has consistently dismissed criticism of these subjects as meddling in its internal affairs.
