From Openness to Control in Xi’s China
Once full of promise, China under Xi Jinping has regressed into authoritarianism, silencing dissent, curbing freedoms, and isolating itself globally.
China’s Missed Opportunity: From Hopeful Reform to Authoritarian Regression
In the late 2000s, the world watched China with a sense of cautious optimism. Under the leadership of Hu Jintao, the country was experiencing a rare period of stability. While the government remained firmly in control, personal freedoms were beginning to grow, and a spirit of cultural expression emerged. Popular TV shows and films explored themes that questioned authority and celebrated individual stories. Citizens felt a renewed pride in their nation, a pride rooted not just in economic progress but in the hope that perhaps, one day, political reform might follow.
It was an era when foreign investment flourished, international businesses established themselves in China’s rapidly growing cities, and expatriates enjoyed a relatively open social environment. “Cultural contraband” like Western media and foreign literature circulated with surprising ease, slipping past the watchful eye of censorship. To the more optimistic observers, it seemed as though China was inching towards a gradual, peaceful transition to a more democratic system.
Then, Xi Jinping rose to power.
The Misplaced Hope in Xi Jinping
When Xi Jinping assumed the presidency in 2012, many viewed him as a cautious reformer. His reputation as a disciplined bureaucrat and his pragmatic approach to governance fostered hope that he would tackle China’s most pressing challenges. Income inequality had reached dangerous levels, corruption ran rampant among local officials, and the country’s meteoric growth had come at a severe cost to public welfare. Many believed Xi would address these issues head-on, implementing necessary reforms while steering the nation toward a more transparent and accountable government.
But that hope was quickly shattered.
Rather than pursuing meaningful reform, Xi set out to consolidate his power. He surrounded himself with a loyal inner circle of party elites, individuals who would echo his views and submit without question. Unlike Mao Zedong, whose revolutionary legacy cemented his authority, or Deng Xiaoping, who was respected for his economic vision, Xi’s claim to leadership lacked historical weight. To counter this, he manufactured his legitimacy through aggressive displays of power and rigid control. His carefully crafted persona of a strongman leader plunged the country into a new era of paranoia, surveillance, and suppression.
The Erosion of Freedom and Cultural Expression
Under Xi’s leadership, China’s cultural vibrancy began to deteriorate. Artists, filmmakers, and authors who had once enjoyed a degree of creative freedom found their works scrutinized, censored, or outright banned. The artistic space that had emerged in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where stories of personal struggle and social criticism could quietly exist, was crushed. In its place rose a hollow form of state-sanctioned media, stripped of any critical thought.
Online discourse suffered a similar fate. Xi expanded China’s already robust censorship apparatus, deploying sophisticated algorithms to monitor social media, block dissenting views, and manipulate public sentiment. The once-thriving digital spaces where citizens quietly debated politics and shared ideas became barren. Individuals were arrested for minor acts of criticism, and the fear of surveillance pervaded even private conversations. The country entered a psychological landscape where dissent equalled danger.
A Foreign Policy of Intimidation and Isolation
Internationally, China’s reputation deteriorated as well. Xi’s administration abandoned diplomatic nuance in favour of aggressive rhetoric and retaliatory policies. The Belt and Road Initiative, once heralded as a vision of global economic cooperation, devolved into a debt-trap strategy, leaving many participating nations burdened with unsustainable loans. While the government framed it as a triumph of Chinese leadership, the reality painted a different picture, one of coercion, financial exploitation, and growing resentment.
At the same time, China’s treatment of its people drew condemnation worldwide. The atrocities committed against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, where forced labour camps and systemic persecution continue to be reported, exposed the brutal underpinnings of Xi’s rule. In Hong Kong, the promise of autonomy under “one country, two systems” was shattered as the government imposed sweeping national security laws, silencing dissent and dismantling freedoms. Instead of fostering diplomatic goodwill, China’s actions sparked sanctions, trade disputes, and growing isolation on the global stage.
The Illusion of Economic Strength
Xi’s economic policies further exacerbated China’s decline. While officials celebrated the façade of rapid development, the country’s reliance on state-driven projects and unsustainable infrastructure spending led to a bloated real estate market and mounting debt. The “996” work culture, where employees endured grueling schedules from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, became a symbol of corporate exploitation and government negligence.
Moreover, corruption persisted despite Xi’s so-called anti-corruption campaigns. While political rivals like Bo Xilai and Meng Jianzhu were publicly disgraced and removed, the system remained fundamentally broken. Local officials continued to abuse their authority with little consequence, police brutality escalated, and reports like the death of Lei Yang underscored the state’s disregard for human rights.
An Emperor in All but Name
Perhaps Xi’s most damning act was his decision in 2018 to abolish presidential term limits. By altering the constitution, he secured his grip on power indefinitely, a move reminiscent of historical authoritarian rulers. This blatant rejection of political progress extinguished any lingering hopes for a democratic transition. The vision of a more open, accountable China gave way to the grim reality of one-man rule.
His consolidation of power emboldened other authoritarian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, who followed Xi’s example to extend his reign. The precedent Xi set serves as a cautionary tale for the world: when the pursuit of absolute control overtakes a government’s duty to its people, the result is a nation built on fear and repression.
A Vision for a Better Future
Yet, despite the grim realities of Xi’s rule, it is essential to distinguish between the Chinese government and the Chinese people. The resilience and spirit of the citizenry remain undiminished. Across China, activists, writers, and ordinary citizens continue to push for a more just society. Even in the face of overwhelming censorship and intimidation, their voices persist.
True progress requires a government willing to confront its flaws rather than conceal them. A nation’s strength lies not in its military or economic dominance but in the well-being and integrity of its people. For China to move forward, it must embrace transparency, protect individual freedoms, and create a society where dissent is not punished but valued as a catalyst for growth.
It is also incumbent upon the global community to hold authoritarian regimes accountable. Through responsible diplomacy, economic partnerships that prioritize human rights, and unwavering support for those fighting oppression, the world can help pave the way for meaningful change.
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