A look at the alliances and political warfare that propelled Xi Jinping from an unremarkable mid-level official in a backwater province to the supreme ruler of China.

Sam Cooper | The Bureau

Canadian investigative reporter, Sam Cooper, in conversation with former U.S. official Chris Meyer (currently the head of the U.S. Micronesia Council and the founder of WideFountain, a platform for in-depth geopolitical analysis).

Summary

Chris Meyer discusses the rise of Xi Jinping to power in China, facilitated by a complex network of political alliances and strategic moves within the CCP, involving princeling clans, technocrats, and spymasters, with key figures playing crucial roles.

The Ye brothers, part of the Yeshi clique, played a significant role in orchestrating political warfare and strategic operations both domestically and internationally. Despite Xi Jinping’s initially low profile, he rapidly ascended to power with the support of the Ye brothers, among others.

The political maneuvering that led to Xi Jinping’s rise included the downfall of other prominent CCP leaders, such as Chen Liangyu, who was part of the Shanghai faction and a protege of Jiang Zemin. Chen was brought down on charges of corruption and abuse of power, which Meyer suggests was a strategic move to clear the path for Xi Jinping.

The rapid investigation and trial of Chen Liangyu suggest a deliberate effort to remove obstacles for Xi Jinping’s ascent.

Meyer also touches on the political landscape in Fujian province during the 1990s, where Xi was governor of Fujian from 1999 to 2002. Although organized crime and political warfare were rampant, Xi Jinping was portrayed as a clean and incorruptible official, a carefully crafted image that contributed to his rise.

Bo Xilai, a charismatic and capable CCP leader, was a strong contender for top leadership. Bo’s downfall was orchestrated through a scandal involving the death of British businessman Neil Heywood, which was used to implicate Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai. The trial and investigation were highly politicized, with doubts about the authenticity of the proceedings and the identity of the person tried.

Meyer suggests that Xi Jinping played a crucial role in ensuring Bo Xilai’s removal, viewing him as a major competitor. The narrative underscores the complex and often ruthless political maneuvering within the CCP, where personal and political rivalries can lead to significant shifts in power.

Xi Jinping’s leadership is marked by paranoia and a lack of merit as he rose to power not through his own achievements but through the removal of more capable leaders, asserts Meyer. This has led to a weakened CCP, with many talented officials either purged or sidelined.

There are indications that Xi’s grip on power is weakening, however, with signs of dissatisfaction within the PLA and calls for more collaborative leadership. Recent actions, such as the removal of Xi’s allies from key positions in the PLA and the discontinuation of the “Xi Jinping Thought” app, suggest a growing resistance to his authoritarian rule.

Listen to the conversation in full at the publisher’s website here.