Xi Jinping Thought

Xi Jinping Thought
Name	Xi Jinping Thought
Native name	习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想
Founder	Xi Jinping
Founded	2012
Ideology	Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era
Country	People's Republic of China

Xi Jinping Thought is the guiding political doctrine attributed to Xi Jinping, articulated during his leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after 2012. It synthesizes doctrines, strategies, and policy frameworks intended to guide the CCP, the People's Republic of China, and Chinese state institutions through economic reform, political consolidation, and international engagement. The doctrine was enshrined in the CCP constitution and incorporated into the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and central planning documents, shaping personnel decisions, legal reforms, and foreign policy directions.

Origins and development

The doctrine emerged from Xi Jinping's tenure as Party Secretary in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Shanghai and was refined after his elevation at the 18th and 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sessions. Influences include earlier CCP leaders such as Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao and canonical works like the Selected Works of Mao Zedong and the policy legacy of Deng Xiaoping Theory, Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. Major milestones include Xi’s speeches at the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, the inclusion in the CCP constitution in 2017, and subsequent codification during the 13th National People's Congress and the Central Economic Work Conference. Key architects and promoters featured personnel from the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Central Military Commission (China), and advisory bodies such as the Central Policy Research Office and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Core principles and ideology

The doctrine emphasizes a constellation of principles: party leadership, national rejuvenation, rule-based governance under party leadership, and a modernized People's Liberation Army. It blends references to socialist development models articulated during the Reform and Opening-up era and strategic doctrines found in documents from the State Council (China), statements at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and white papers issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The thought advances concepts like the Chinese Dream articulated by Xi, prioritizes comprehensive national security as discussed in China’s National Security Law debates, and stresses technological self-reliance reflected in programs such as Made in China 2025 and the National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020). It situates domestic governance alongside diplomatic strategies in arenas including the United Nations Security Council, regional frameworks like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and initiatives such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Policy implementation and governance

Implementation channels include central planning through organs like the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms, fiscal steering by the Ministry of Finance (PRC), and regulatory actions by the State Administration for Market Regulation. Policy areas influenced range from industrial policy in coordination with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and the China National Space Administration to urbanization and housing policy affecting municipalities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. The doctrine informed legal and administrative reforms enacted by the Supreme People's Court and the National People's Congress, personnel decisions within the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and military modernization overseen by the People's Liberation Army Navy and the Rocket Force. Implementation often involved coordination with provincial leadership in Guangdong, Sichuan, and Hunan, and policy experimentation in special administrative regions such as Hong Kong and Macau.

Institutionalization within the CCP

Institutionalization occurred through formal amendments at the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and subsequent plenums of the Central Committee. Educational campaigns used institutions like the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, party study materials distributed by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, and propaganda organs including the Xinhua News Agency and the People's Daily. Party discipline and cadre evaluation systems were reoriented via the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and personnel bodies such as the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party. The doctrine also shaped legal instruments adopted by bodies like the National Supervisory Commission and informed curricula at universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University.

Domestic and international impact

Domestically, the doctrine has influenced industrial policy, social governance, and anti-corruption campaigns led by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and high-profile prosecutions in organs like the Supreme People's Procuratorate. Economic management has been steered through institutions such as the People's Bank of China and state-owned enterprises including the China National Petroleum Corporation and China Telecom. Internationally, it has affected China’s posture in multilateral fora like the World Trade Organization and bilateral relations with states including the United States, Russia, India, Japan, South Africa, and Australia. Strategic initiatives tied to the doctrine have expanded through infrastructure projects linked to the Belt and Road Initiative, finance via the New Development Bank, and defense cooperation involving the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and naval deployments in regions like the South China Sea.

Criticism and controversies

Critics include scholars from institutions such as Harvard University, London School of Economics, and National University of Singapore, policy analysts at think tanks like Chatham House and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and commentators in media outlets reporting on issues like press freedom and legal independence. Controversies revolve around centralization of power, changes to term limits decided by the National People's Congress (China), human rights concerns raised by bodies including Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty International, and disputes over policies in regions such as Xinjiang and Tibet. International responses have included diplomatic statements by the European Union and legislative inquiries in bodies such as the United States Congress and parliaments of countries like Canada and Australia.

Category:Politics of the People's Republic of China