Xi Jinping celebrates China’s rising power — and his own

## A New Era for China? Xi Jinping’s Power Play and Global Ambitions at Communist Party Congress

Xi Jinping kicked off China’s twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress with a powerful display, solidifying his position as perhaps the most influential Chinese leader in decades. In a lengthy address, Xi outlined his vision for the nation’s future, celebrating past achievements and signaling a new era of global prominence for China. But beneath the surface of celebratory pronouncements lie critical questions about China’s role on the world stage and the future of its leadership.

Xi hailed what he termed a “great leap” for the Chinese nation, moving from decline to prosperity. He envisions transforming China into a “great modern socialist country” over the next three decades. The ambition is clear, yet Xi acknowledged the challenges ahead. According to PBS NewsHour, he cautioned that achieving this rejuvenation would require arduous and strenuous efforts from the entire party.

Susan Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, believes that Xi Jinping has an ambitious vision for China’s role in the world. She said, “Xi Jinping has a vision of China’s role in the world that is much more ambitious than anything we have seen before, talking about China kind of moving toward the center of the world and having a lot more influence than it did before.”

**Filling the Void?**

While focusing on internal progress and future ambitions, Xi notably omitted discussion of political reforms and avoided mentioning President Trump or North Korea’s nuclear program in his address. However, he did address concerns about the Chinese export-driven economy due to weakening global demand.

The focus on economic power raises questions about China’s global strategy. While President Trump has praised his relationship with Xi, other U.S. officials are more wary. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has criticized China’s aggressive displays of economic and military power, particularly its expansion in the South China Sea. Tillerson stated that the U.S. “will not shrink from China’s challenges to the rules-based order, and where China subverts the sovereignty of neighboring countries and disadvantages the U.S. and our friends.”

Interestingly, Shirk suggests that China has been stepping into a vacuum left by the United States’ withdrawal from global agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris climate accords. This could potentially have a positive global impact.

**Succession Uncertainties: Is Xi Here to Stay?**

One of the key things to watch for in the coming days of the Congress is who Xi establishes as his likely successor. Shirk also speculates, “That is why there is a lot of speculation now that he may be trying, much like Putin, to stay on beyond his normal term or to rule behind the scenes even after he retires.” The absence of a clear successor would point to Xi’s intention to remain in power beyond the typical two-term limit.

As President Trump prepares to meet with Xi in Beijing next month, the world will be watching closely to see how these dynamics play out and what “new era” truly means for China and global politics.