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Australian Polity, Volume 10 Number 1 & 2

March 2022 issue of Australian Polity

March 2022 issue of Australian Polity

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The Wall Street bankers who still believe that China

will pursue economic liberalism should read the CCP

Mission Statement. In it, the Central Committee adopts

the Marxist doctrine that socialism is a stepping-stone

to communism. Responding to criticism that China was

departing from Marxism, the Party insists that it is still

in ‘the primary stage of Socialism’, yet to embark on

the communist stage when all private property will be

eliminated. In the meantime, all aspects of society are

subject to the ‘strict control of the Communist Party’

including its ‘centralised’ directives.

It is arguable that the world has reached an inflexion

point on China. Not only are an increasing number of

nations cooperating in military exercises or transiting

the China Seas, but they are also calling out China’s

breaches of World Trade agreements and human rights

violations. Some 43 countries delivered a cross-regional

joint statement last week about the Uyghurs in Xinjiang,

the largest number ever. Small nations such as Lithuania

and the Czech Republic have established links with Taiwan

and the European Union has increased its engagement

with the Republic of China. A reluctance to confront the

CCP is being replaced by frankness, cooperation and

global resistance.

At the same time, the Chinese leadership is bunkered

down in Beijing. Although the world’s largest emitter

which is rapidly building coal-fired power stations to

overcome its energy shortage, China’s President will

not be at the Glasgow climate conference. Xi has not

travelled outside China for almost two years. Nor have

most of his senior ministers. It has been accepted

generally that they have been isolated because of a fear

of contracting Covid, although recent reports suggest

other factors. As I wrote in my previous column, there is a

major power play underway in China, as Xi seeks to crush

his rivals, particularly those associated with Jiang Zimen.

Unconfirmed reports have filtered out of the country of

a plot to assassinate a senior figure, suspected to be

Xi. Security surrounding the recent 100th anniversary

events was extraordinarily high, even by the usual strict

standards. While Xi commands the PLA, Jiang has retained

considerable influence over the larger police and internal

security forces. Leaving China may be dangerous for Xi’s

health in more ways than one!

This article was first published in the Spectator Australia.

“It is arguable that

the world has reached

an inflexion point on

China.”

Australian Polity 35

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