What is Mr. Xi Thinking? In Which Direction is China Heading?

    Xi Jinping The Governance of China (Photo: english.cri.cn)

                           by David Parmer

The  unambiguous answer to the above questions can be found in Mr. Xi’s book, The Governance of China. Released in September 2014, the book’s 18 chapters contain speeches, interviews and correspondence by China’s president, who also holds the posts of General Secretary of the CCP and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

 Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has headed in a new direction in Reform and Opening Up. President Xi tells us what he is thinking and where he is going in light of these developments.

Topics covered by Mr. Xi include:

• Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
• The Chinese Dream
• All-round and Deeper-level Reform
• Economic Development
• Rule of Law
• Culturally Advanced China
• Social Undertakings
• Ecological Progress
• National Defense
• “One Country, Two Systems”
• Peaceful Development
• New Model of Major-Country Relations
• Neighborhood Diplomacy
• Cooperation with Developing Countries
• Multilateral Relations
• Close Ties with the People
• Combat Corruption
• The CPC Leadership

The immense value of Mr. Xi’s book is that he spells out the Chinese position in a succinct and easily-understandable manner. Pick a topic and you will find China’s position and Mr. Xi’s thinking stated clearly:

 On Taiwan:

 “…the most important and most fundamental thing to do is to maintain China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Although the mainland and Taiwan are yet to be reunited, they belong to one and the same China which is an indivisible whole.” (Handle Cross-Straits Relations in the Overall Interests of the Chinese Nation)

 On The Chinese Dream:

“In my opinion, achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has been the greatest dream of the Chinese people since the advent of modern times.” (Achieving Rejuvenation Is the Dream of the Chinese People)

On the Environment:

 “Our Party raised a requirement to build a beautiful China at its 18th National Congress. The whole of society should enhance its ecological awareness and strengthen environmental protection in accordance with this requirement so as to build China into a country with a good environment.” ( A Better Environment for a Beautiful China)

On the Military:

 “Our officers and soldiers will maintain an indomitable revolutionary sprit and be dauntless in combat. We will make every effort to combat corruption and promote integrity in the armed forces. Senior officers must take a clear-cut stand against corruption and set an example in abiding by the code of honest conduct.” (Build up Our National Defense and Armed Forces)

 Those interested in understanding China in the 21st century will find The Governance of China a readable and easily-understandable roadmap. One may agree or disagree with the direction  in which China is heading, but one can not claim ignorance when it is all there in Xi Jinping’s book, The Governance of China.