IN FOCUS
By Avishka Ashok

President Xi Jinping seeks support from the military: Three takeaways of a Jamestown Opinion 

On 25 January, Jamestown Foundation published an Opinion titled “As Rival Factions Gain Traction, Xi Seeks to Secure Support from the Military.” The essay analyses the divisions within the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping’s course of action in an attempt to hold unobstructed power in the country’s political system.

The basic premise of the opinion is, since 2019, the Chinese President has promoted numerous officials in the People’s Liberation Party and removed many others from their influential positions under the pretense of “anti-corruption” drives. The author Willy Wo-Lap Lam suspects that the intentions behind Xi’s anti-corruption drives may be linked to the growing disagreements within the party.

One could identify three takeaways from the opinion.
First, the factional contrast within the party threatens Xi Jinping
Despite Xi Jinping’s attempts of portraying a unified communist party of China, his efforts are falling short due to other competing cliques within the party, threatening to override his authority and the distinctive supremacy that he has enjoyed in the last few decades. The essay identifies Jiang Zemin who heads the Shanghai Faction and Hu Jintao who heads the Communist Youth League Faction as Xi’s immediate competitors. Xi has also lost out on friends and confidants while he continues as the President of China. Wang Qishan, who was initially in charge of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and a close confidant, also had a fall out with Xi in 2017. Wang’s replacement is closer to the anti-Xi factions. All factions are faced with challenges as they try to remove the key figureheads through the anti-corruption campaigns. Xi’s friends such as Li Zhanshu and Zhou Jiangyong have been placed under investigation for their involvement in corrupt practices.

Second, Xi is hitting back in his own way, through purges
President Xi also responded to the anti-Xi factions targeting his people by the drawn-out purges of the Central Political-Legal Commission (CPLC). In January 2022, Chinese media reported on the wrongdoings of the members and officials of the multiple offices under the CPLC. Xi also appointed his close ally Wang Xiaohong as the Party Secretary and executive Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Service (MPS). However, the appointment is a small feat since the Ministry has a stronger anti-Xi faction as its members. 

Third, Xi is creating his circle of faithful followers
In order to secure his interests within the country, President Xi is now focusing on protecting the PLA from further infiltration by the anti-Xi groups. Being the chairman of the Central Military Commission and the Commander-in-Chief, Xi has consolidated power in the PLA by appointing seven senior lieutenant generals and one PAP officer as generals in January 2022. Since 2019, Xi has promoted 38 officers to the position of full general. The promotions are uncanny evidence of Xi’s urgency in securing the trust and support of his allies since Xi has overridden the quota of officers who can be promoted in year and the term that must be served by the officials at each post.

References:
“As Rival Factions Gain Traction, Xi Seeks to Secure Support from the Military,” Jamestown Foundation, 25 January 2022)

IN BRIEF
By Dincy Adlakha and Keerthana Nambiar

INTERNAL
China sentences an Uyghur man to death,  three to life imprisonment over textbook content
On 1 February, The Asahi Shimbun reported that the Chinese government has sentenced an Uyghur man to death and three others to life imprisonment  for including resistance movments in children’s textbooks. The content had previously been approved by the Communist Party. However, as the imperatives from the Party have changed, the content has bee reinterpreted and is declared as containing devastating consequences for individuals. The content had drawings of resistance movements from the 1940s which was also praised by the first Chairman Mao Zedong. As the crackdown on Uyghur Muslims tightens from the Chinese government, textbooks also face changes in curriculum and content. (“A Uighur gets death sentence, as China bans once OK’d books,” The Asahi Shimbun, 1 February 2022)

Video of mentally ill woman locked in chains raises anger in China
On 1 February, The Straits Times reported that a video surfaced on Chinese social media and other internet platforms that showed a middle-aged mentally ill woman tied with metal chains in a doorless brick shack. The video raised anger in China as the citizens asked of her identity and why was she locked up. Further investigations revealed that the video was shot in Jiangsu province previous week. The Chinese social media attended the issue with multiple hashtags and questions, with some prominent members of the society reporting the case to “relevant leaders.” (“Video of mentally ill woman chained in shack stirs anger in China,” The Straits Times, 1 February 2022)

China initiates the torch relay before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony
On 2 February, the torch relay for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games started at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing. The torch was lit by the Vice Premier Han Zhang during the launch ceremony and then handed over the torch to China’s first winter sports world champion Luo Zhihuan, aged 80 years. However, due to the pandemic, the relay is being conducted on a smaller scale. A total of 1200 participants are taking part in the relay which will continue for the next three days until the opening ceremony. (“Olympic torch relay begins in Beijing, Xinhua Net, 2 February 2022)

ECONOMY
Leading brokerage firm in China reports strong performance in 2021
On 2 February, a leading brokerage firm in China, Western Securities Co. reported a strong performance in 2021. The firm filed its performance statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and reported a 27 per cent year on year profit which amounted to 223.3 million USD. The revenue increased by 30.53 per cent and the firm reported an earning of 0.317 yuan per share. The assets of the firm increased by 32.76 per cent from the previous year. (“Western Securities reports strong performance in 2021,” Xinhua Net, 2 February 2022)

Trade between China and Europe records a 27.5 per cent increase 
On 2 February, Xinhua Net reported that the trade between China and European countries had expanded in 2021 despite all economies suffering numerous losses due to the pandemic. The robust economic growth between China and Europe can be seen as evidence of the efficient trade cooperation between the countries. The total value of the trade amounted to USD 828.1 billion and marks a 27.5 per cent increase from the previous year. China continued to be Europe’s largest trading partner in 2021. (“Economic Watch: China-Europe trade shows resilience with strong performance in 2021, Xinhua Net, 2 February 2022)

China Association of Automobile Manufacturers records sale of 2.02 million units in 2021
On 2 February, Xinhua Net reported the latest data published by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The data revealed that China’s automobile export had recorded a sale of 2.02 million units for the first time, in 2021. The data also revealed that the sale of new energy vehicle exports tripled and sold a total of 310,000 units. Passenger cars also increased by 1.1 times and sold 1.61 million units. Commercial vehicles recorded a 70.7 per cent increase, selling 402,000 units in the previous year. (“China's auto exports top 2 mln in 2021", Xinhua Net, 2 February 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
Foreign Ministry and National People’s Congress object Japan’s resolution on China’s human rights situation
On 1 February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian issued the Ministry’s response to the Japanese House of Representatives passing a resolution on the alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet Autonomous Region and Hong Kong. Zhao referred to Japan’s war crimes in the second world war and claimed that the country had no right to raise questions about the human rights conditions of other countries. He said: “The related officials from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, and the Chinese side reserves the right to take further measures.” The spokesperson of the National People’s Congress also remarked that Japan’s resolution interfered with the internal affairs and has greatly compromised the bilateral relations and mutual trust that were on the path of improvement. He said: “We firmly oppose Japan's political manipulation under the pretext of 'human rights.” (“China's top legislature opposes so-called human rights resolution adopted by Japan's House of Representatives, Xinhua Net, 2 February 2022; Japan has no authority to wantonly comment on other countries’ human rights conditions: Chinese FM, Global Times, 1 February 2022)