China's cabinet & CCP party issue a new directive that calls for "resolute opposition and boycott of erroneous Western concepts such as 'constitutional rule' and 'separation of powers'".
'Strengthening legal education and theory research in the new era'.
news.cn/politics/zywj/…
'Strengthening legal education and theory research in the new era'.
news.cn/politics/zywj/…
2/ This likely forebodes more constitutional reform to come at next week's annual two sessions (China's parliament session).
Specifically it hints at further enshrining of Xi and Xi Jinping thought into the constitution.
Specifically it hints at further enshrining of Xi and Xi Jinping thought into the constitution.
3/ Namely either 'two establishes' and/or 'two safeguards' (兩個確立 and 兩個維護) may make their way into China's constitution. The latter had already being incorporated into the party charter at 20th PC last October.
4/ Timing is instructive: This story came out on Feb 26, i.e. the first day of CCP's Second Plenum, a meeting that greenlights agenda of the NPC parliament session next week.
5/ Chinese politics work in 5-year cycles.
And this year's NPC session, the first after leadership turnover, is expected to make significant constitutional revisions --- at the same point in the cycle 5 years ago, the NPC abolished term limits for China's presidency in 2018.
And this year's NPC session, the first after leadership turnover, is expected to make significant constitutional revisions --- at the same point in the cycle 5 years ago, the NPC abolished term limits for China's presidency in 2018.
6/ Reasonable to expect something equally big.
Baseline expectation is probably NPC will incorporate the 'two safeguards' into constitution. (safeguard Xi's core status within the party; and party's central leadership of the country).
Baseline expectation is probably NPC will incorporate the 'two safeguards' into constitution. (safeguard Xi's core status within the party; and party's central leadership of the country).
7/ It would be a homerun for Xi if they go beyond that & add 'two establishes' into the constitution, too.
Main difference btw them is that 'two establishes' contains an additional #ideological component. It says establishing Xi as core leader + XJP Thought as guidance thought
Main difference btw them is that 'two establishes' contains an additional #ideological component. It says establishing Xi as core leader + XJP Thought as guidance thought
8/ A primer on Wiki.
'Two establishes' got a lot of hype, but eventually didn't make it into the CCP party charter at the 20thPC. Instead, 'Two safeguards' did. Some China hands at the time called it a consolation prize (but a huge one at that though).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Estab…
'Two establishes' got a lot of hype, but eventually didn't make it into the CCP party charter at the 20thPC. Instead, 'Two safeguards' did. Some China hands at the time called it a consolation prize (but a huge one at that though).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Estab…
9/ Former US President Obama used to say: "You hit singles, you hit doubles; every once in a while we may be able to hit a home run."
Let's see if China's upcoming NPC & two sessions will bring a home run or a solid double for Xi's power in the new era.
Let's see if China's upcoming NPC & two sessions will bring a home run or a solid double for Xi's power in the new era.
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