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The well-known New York-based Chinese-language news website duoweinews.com recently carried an article titled "Xi Jinping is awakening China". The following is an excerpt: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, a movie based on the 1995 autobiography of the revered late South African president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, was screened in the Chinese mainland in July. Nelson Mandela was one of the few political leaders who gained universal recognition and the respect of people from different factions in Africa and around the world. At present, China, to which Mandela had special connections, is on the road to national rejuvenation, following its more than 30 years of skyrocketing economic growth. But it is also facing the challenge of the US' rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific, which is widely seen as being aimed at containing China. At this critical moment of great changes and transitions, China is in dire need of a political leader who has the courage, sense of mission and wisdom to lead the country to its reawakening. After showing his resolve with a sweeping and unprecedented anti-graft campaign, which netted Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, the spotlight of global attention is now on President Xi Jinping. A year ago, many in China didn't believe that the CPC would investigate such a high-ranking former top official as Zhou, nor did observers in other countries imagine that Xi, who just come to power, had the capability and courage to cage such big "tigers" as Zhou and Xu Caihou, the former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. The outside world has mostly been impressed by the ruthlessness of the CPC's anti-corruption campaign. Yet, many people close to the CPC ruling circle said that the fight against corruption is just part of the political objectives of the central leadership led by Xi. Behind the anti-graft campaign is a grand blueprint, which analysts have labeled "The Second Reforms". The new concept contains a lot more than the word "reforms" can convey and has gone farther and wider than the outside world would imagine. Xi aims to break the entrenched bureaucracy and vested interests of officialdom formed during the fast economic expansion and initiate a brand-new model of governance for a modernized country. What is even more noteworthy is that Xi is quietly leading a revolution that is transforming the CPC's theory of governance and the legal framework for governance. It has yet to be seen how Xi is going to implement it, but one thing is for sure, he highly cherishes the breadth and depth of traditional Chinese culture. As for economic development, the "new economic normal" idea, which runs counter to the reckless development of the past 30-plus years, has appeared and is starting to take root. What is more, reform of the People's Liberation Army has been initiated and rebuilding the soul of military has become a top priority. Therefore one can conclude that all of Xi's ideas and actions on cultural, military, political and economical reforms are meant to push China further along the road to rejuvenation. Mission to reform In its recent history, China was humiliated by Western powers. The Opium Wars made it realize that it had been abandoned by modernization. Western powers used their more advanced weapons to force the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) to drop its policy of seclusion. China's agricultural civilization, which had enjoyed thousands of years of glory, was beaten by capitalist civilization. Then the terrible defeat of the Qing Dynasty's Northern Navy to Japan in 1894 made "political reform" and "restoration" a consensus. From then on, China has been looking for a road to return to and lead global modernization. With the flooding of Western civilization into China along with gunfire, Chinese culture was denied and discarded. In his speeches at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art in 1942, Mao Zedong opened up a new political era. Traditional Chinese culture suffered unprecedented attack during the ten-year "cultural revolution" (1966-76). After which, China's economy enjoyed 30 years of rapid growth thanks to Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening-up policy. "Everyone has only one fate." What Michael Corleone said in the God Father is concise and thought provoking. "What should we do with our only fate?" What Pavel Korchagin wondered is an eternal question - the fates of the weak are controlled by others while strong people hold their own destinies. And the fate of a nation is held in the hands of its leaders. Xi Jinping insists that he is a loyal descendant of revolutionary elders and it is his mission to revive China and achieve the ruling party's modernization. "Xi could have enjoyed a relaxed term of office, but as a descendant of revolutionary forerunners, he feels obligated to choose a harder road." said another offspring of revolutionary elders. Hu Jintao turned over both the power of Party and military to Xi at the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. Despite being in office for less than two years, Xi's confidence has made him a mature leader who is not afraid of hardship. The image Xi presents to the public is unimaginable for others, even for friends and colleagues who used to be familiar with him. His every word is no longer an empty slogan, but from his deep thinking. Xi stressed that the road the country takes can determine its fate, and he proposed the dream of the great rejuvenation of China as the road to take while visiting the exhibition Road to Revival on November 29, 2012. This was also an announcement of his historical mission. And so we Chinese will no longer be those who were controlled by others. During Xi' visit to Europe in 2014, he mentioned Chinese civilization and China's road many times, declaring that "China the lion has already woken up". Xi has his own plan on how to revive the country, what kind of country China will be when revived, and how it will interact with other countries after reviving. Even though he is a leader who has not been in office for long, he has declared to the whole world that China will step into a new era under his leadership. The best strategy needs tactics Since ancient times, a weak nation's diplomacy has been reactive rather than proactive. Culture and the military are normally regarded as the soft power and hard power with which a nation engages with the world. During more than 30 years of peace and rapid development, corruption has accrued within the People's Liberation Army. The investigations into Gu Junshan, the former deputy head of the logistics department of the PLA, and Xu Caihou, the former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, which made public earlier this year, are considered part of a determined strategy conducted by President Xi Jinping to improve the quality and spirit of the military. Remolding the spirit of the PLA should come before the rebuilding of its soul, and anti-corruption is seen as the only way to achieve this goal. "It will generate a fatal influence on national security if the development of the military lags behind. Words depicting how China's ill-developed military were attacked always sent me into deep grief when I read history books" said President Xi Jinping, during a meeting on December 27, 2013. That day was also the first day after commemorating the 120th anniversary of Mao Zedong's birthday. The name of the meeting, though known to insiders as an important one, has not been disclosed to public. This quote is also listed in the newly published book titled Excerpts of Xi Jinping's Remarks on Comprehensive and Deep Reforms. Military reform is going hand-in-hand with a campaign against military corruption. Military reform was also written into the reform package of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, or the Third Plenum, which laid out plans to improve the defense industry, weaponry development, personnel training and military officers' benefits. China's official media have repeatedly stressed that President Xi Jinping has personally drawn up and is directing this round of national defense and army reform. Xi's remarks at the unnamed meeting mentioned above fully express his strategy of building a modern military, said an analysis posted by an overseas edition of People's Daily on its official WeChat, a popular instant messaging and phone mobile app in China. A military drill was staged in late July amid various anniversaries - the 20th anniversary of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), the 100th anniversary of the First World War, and the founding of the PLA. The drill stood out from its predecessors as the PLA showed what it had got, making explicit its determination to win. China plans to establish a collaborative command center in the East China Sea that will integrate its army, navy and air forces in the area, according to media reports. The move is believed to aimed at improving tactical capability. The highest form of generalship is to balk (counter) the enemy's plans, said Sun Tzu, an ancient Chinese military strategist. What the PLA is doing now is also using psychology to "balk the enemy's plans". Xi promoted the idea of national rejuvenation soon after taking office. He also declared to the world it was the awakening of a sleeping lion, a term used by Napoleon Bonaparte to describe China as a weak nation with potential power. These remarks have sent the message that China is an active player in the global arena, a rising power which increasingly adopts its own stance in its exchanges with the US and which is no longer shy of showing its military capabilities. Hard time for reform Xi is aware of what obstacles he faces in pushing through his military reform plans. "Difficulties can be solved when there is action, or else easy things can't be done," Xi once said at a meeting, quoting Peng Duanshu (1699-1779), a late official in Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Military reform is part of the reform package, a 60-item resolution, released after the Third Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee, which convened in Beijing last November. The reforms will transform society, economy, politics and culture. Born into a politically influential family, Xi has climbed the career ladder from bottom to top, preparing himself well by knowing all walks of life. Speaking of the new reforms, he said, "finished are the easier tasks that draw proponents, while left are the hot potatoes that draw opponents." Xi is governing a country which has already risen to be the world's second-largest economy, but whose further development is impaired by its lagging social welfare and old-fashioned governance philosophies. Faced with this lopsided development, on taking office Xi started to promote the Chinese Dream, a term that encapsulates a set of ideals, including a moderately prosperous society and national rejuvenation. For Xi, building a modern China does not mean replicating Western social norms, rather it means introducing the core socialist values of justice, fairness, democracy and freedom into society. As Xi has pointed out, China's social problems are intertwined with one another and therefore reforms in different areas need to be carried out at the same time. China has been following the roadmap that was produced at the Third Plenum, with policy changes in family planning, urbanization, labor camps and administrative streamlining. Judicial, cultural and fiscal reforms are on the way. Military reform, which is seldom conducted in public, is also under way. Xi is also trying to establish new governance philosophies. But with various areas demanding reform measures, Xi has tough decisions to make in order to mediate between different interest groups. Xi has headed the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms and National Security Commission since the 18th CPC National Congress, to name just a few of 10 commissions Xi heads. Historian Xiao Gongqin has said that the strong leadership Xi represents will establish a golden era. The contrary view argues Xi developed a deep understanding of the harm of an out-of-order society and idolization through his experiences during the "cultural revolution "(1966-1976) and in rural areas. For Xi himself, regulations and laws are not only words written on papers, they must also be put into action. Xi, a holder of PhD in law, is seeking a route to modernization through law. The upcoming Fourth Plenary of the 18th CPC National Congress is also sending such a signal, as the conference's theme is expected to be the rule of law. Prior to Xi becoming president, analysts said China needed a nimble and strong leader, able to deal with the problems and challenges that had arisen in the process of social transformation. While it seems that Xi has such talent. At the beginning of Xi's presidency, he said that a new round of reform and open-up was the key to China's future destiny. This was not just empty words. The Western media while agreeing with his words had little faith in his ability to push them through. One year later, international media outlets have been making positive comments on Xi's leadership, using phrases such as "the man who will change China" and "Xi will become the first truly global leader". Heroes make history, and history makes heroes. Xi launched a massive anti-corruption campaign to clean up the Party, sending the message he is a courageous and powerful leader. An online article saying "Xi has earned reverence of thousands of millions of Chinese people" has been creating a buzz online; this reverence toward their leader is distinct from idolization. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, has praised Xi as a man of "great breadth" and put him in "the Nelson Mandela class of persons". Such compliments may seem premature, but China watchers have acknowledged that Xi's ambitious inaugural declaration sounds more like a statesman's plan than a political stunt. "China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world," said Napoleon Bonaparte. Nearly 200 years, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced "the sleeping lion has woken up" on French soil. Xi made the remark when addressing a meeting in Paris in March to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France. Now Xi is gearing up for the awakened lion's next move. It's Xi's moment to make history now.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Editor-s-Picks/China-up-close/Xi-Jinping-sends-shock-waves-with-his-2035-manifesto Former Chinese leader Mao Zedong ruled until his death at 82. Many think President Xi Jinping is eyeing the possibility of staying in office until 2035, when he too will be 82-years-old. (Nikkei montage/AP/Reuters/Getty Images) Xi Jinping sends shock waves with his 2035 manifesto A coded news release signals the president's intent to be 'leader for life' KATSUJI NAKAZAWA, Nikkei senior staff writerAugust 6, 2020 04:09 JST TOKYO -- At the end of last month, the Chinese Communist Party announced it will convene a key policy meeting in October. "The fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will be held in Beijing in October," the Xinhua article read. Attendees will assess the proposals for the next five-year plan that spans 2021 to 2025 "and future targets for 2035," it said. For China watchers around the world, the second half of that sentence is a coded message that could not go unnoticed. "President Xi Jinping really does intend to stay in power for the long run," one political pundit said. "This must be, in effect, the manifesto for the next 15 years." While China has modernized over the years, it still retains some remnants of its socialist planned economy era, including the formulation of five-year plans. Therefore, the decision to discuss a new plan comes as no surprise. But to plan for a decade beyond that, all the way to 2035, does not come from any textbook, and it raised many eyebrows. Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, is seen with other members of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing. © AP In a world where the near future is becoming increasingly unclear, especially as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, looking 15 years down the road is far-fetched, even for the strategic-thinking Chinese. It would be equivalent to drawing up three five-year plans in one stroke. What political intentions lie behind the move? Veteran party officials will easily realize what they are. Upon hearing about the ultra-long-term plan for 2035, one political pundit reacted by citing a quote by Zhuge Liang, the master strategist from the Three Kingdoms period. "Spare no effort unto one's dying day." It was a slogan the top bureaucrat liked to use to express his resolve when he went to war. Doing one's best until one's death might sound like a compliment to Xi's resolve, but the reality is this pundit was speaking sarcastically in a way unique to China. The key here is Mao Zedong, the founding father of "new China," who reigned over China until his death at 82. For Xi, who was born in 1953, the year 2035 is when he too will turn 82. Mao was the "eternal chairman" of the Communist Party. By comparing himself to Mao, Xi is trying to pave the way to becoming the second leader to stay in power for life. Naturally, not everybody in the party is thrilled with Xi's daring ambition. Those opposed to his ultralong reign cannot speak out loudly but occasionally attempt to put up resistance using various methods, perhaps circling around like a bee looking to sting. "Things are moving too soon," one veteran party source said. Already in July the party has decided what to discuss in an October meeting, he noted. Chairman Mao Zedong makes a report at the second Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1949. (AP Photo/Hsinhua News Agency) © AP According to the communist calendar, this summer will be a crucial period that will affect the future of the Xi Jinping era. That is because ahead of the next quinquennial party National Congress in 2022, it will be this year, not next, when the framework of the discussions will come together. The prelude to a full-scale political battle over the 2022 national congress is already underway. In some cases, the outline of key personnel changes at the congress, including specific names, will be discussed this year. From Xi's standpoint: Victory goes to the one who makes the first move. Certainly now is not the time to play defense. With the domestic economy in the doldrums and relations with the U.S. in tatters, Xi would not be able to make much of an argument if he were defending himself in front of party elders. If Xi can make people think that his status will be secure, overseeing the party's national congresses in 2022, then in 2027 and even in 2032 as China's de facto top leader, party members, including those who do not belong to Xi's faction, will come to heel en masse. They will serve the powerful for their own good at the end of the day. On the other hand, Xi's boldness could backfire, resulting in an even harsher feud with rivals. If party elders or rivals see this summer as their last chance to make their case, there is no shortage of topics with which to go after him. An aerial view of workers building a utility tunnel, a passage built underground or above ground to carry utility lines such as electricity, steam, water supply pipes, and sewer pipes, at the Xiong'an New Area. © AP Looking back, Xi was also on the offensive at the party's last national congress, in 2017, the last national congress. Shortly before the event, Sun Zhengcai, then the top official of Chongqing and a candidate to succeed the top leader in the future, fell victim to Xi's signature anti-corruption campaign. At the party's 2017 congress, five years after he took the helm of the party, Xi also succeeded in doing something that was thought to be impossible: enshrining his eponymous ideology in the party's constitution. Months later he scrapped the presidential limit of two five-year terms. In China today, many governmental programs have completion dates of 2035. The Xiong'an New Area, a massive new city in Hebei Province, is among them. The project is proceeding with Xi's full backing. Last month, Xi declared that the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, China's answer to GPS, had formally started global operations. A Chinese official in charge of the system has made clear that it will be upgraded by 2035. Xi attends the completion and commissioning ceremony for the Beidou Navigation Satellite System in Beijing on July 31. © AP Chinese officials are publicly referring to "Made in China 2025" much less frequently now that the blueprint for upgrading the country's high-tech industries has come under fire from the U.S. This shows a certain degree of consideration to the international political situation. But the ultra-long-term plan for 2035 is at the core of Xi's politics, and China will push ahead with it regardless of Beijing's external relations if domestic politics demand it. Naturally, China's confrontation with the U.S. will intensify. In mid-July, Chinese netizens prematurely celebrated the culmination of a long-held dream. The country's April-June gross domestic product, it was believed, had finally overtaken that of the U.S. "The great rejuvenation" had happened, they said, and the country had regained its status as the world's top economy, which it had held before being defeated by the U.K. in the 1840-1842 Opium War. This turned out to be incorrect due to miscalculations over month-on-month comparisons and year-on-year growth rates, but it is true that China is closing in on the U.S. in terms of economic size. "No country or individual can stop the historical pace of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi has repeatedly said, reflecting his confidence that China will be able to overtake the U.S. His supporters would say that extending his reign until 2035 is a necessary component to realize "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The cursed year of 2020 means little to the leader, if he is thinking in much longer time frames. Would his plan really be accepted under the current circumstances? A tentative answer to this question will become clear when the fifth plenary session concludes in October. Katsuji Nakazawa is a Tokyo-based senior staff writer and editorial writer at Nikkei. He has spent seven years in China as a correspondent and later as China bureau chief. He is the 2014 recipient of the Vaughn-Ueda International Journalist prize for international reporting.

President Xi and his wife recently visited the UK. The UK rolled out the red carpet for him and dished out all sorts of niceties to make the Chinese President feel good. They even got the Duchess of Cambridge to wear this stunning red dress at the official state banquet. This is no ordinary red, this is Communist Chinese Party Red. A most deliberate choice. Well, I gotta say that the Duchess of Cambridge looks really cool. It helps that she is tall. In this picture, President Xi bows his head, showing his respect to royalty (and a lady of course). Some video compilation and other pictures from the trip here. You can see Kung Fu Panda and even Jackie Chan. Earlier, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted the Chinese President and his wife at some function in London. Kate wore this lacy elegant dress.

I have been reading up on Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the USA. Very fascinating. At least the leaders of the two most powerful countries in the world are shaking hands and holding joint press conferences, even if China refuses to concede anything on the South China Sea issue. President Xi's first stop was not Washington DC, but Seattle. Here is a video of his arrival. The Presidential plane looks to be a commercial charter - Air China, I think a Boeing 747-400. You can even see the Star Alliance sign next to the aircraft door. President and Mrs Xi arrive in Seattle, USA. During his visit to Boeing, President Xi announced US$38 billion worth of orders for Boeing Aircraft, from China. It is widely expected that China will surpass USA as Boeing's most important customer in a few years. Some more pictures of President Xi's tour of the Boeing factory. Private tour. President Xi on stage. President Xi getting a momento from Boeing. Looks like a framed photograph of his arrival. I think they use the same metal for this photo frame, as they use for aircraft. Simple but very neat. In Seattle, Mr Xi met top American executives, including leaders of Microsoft and Boeing. His plane landed at Paine Field, adjacent to Boeing's manufacturing base. To set itself apart, Microsoft gave President Xi a special tour and exhibition of Microsoft HQ, and this included a banquet where Chief Executive Satya Nadella and co-founder Bill Gates could be found sitting near Mr Xi or his trusted aide. I don't know who that Chinese man beside Bill Gates is, but he must be somebody very important to President Xi.

bo sala wat... Lol