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