Xi Jinping, born on June 15, 1953, is a prominent Chinese politician holding the paramount leadership positions within the People’s Republic of China. Since 2012, he has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), consolidating his authority over the party and the military. In 2013, Xi’s leadership further expanded as he assumed the role of the seventh president of China, representing the nation on the global stage. Notably, Xi Jinping belongs to the fifth generation of Chinese leadership and holds the distinction of being the first CCP general secretary born after the establishment of the PRC, marking a generational shift in the country’s political landscape.
Xi Jinping: From Rural Roots to Paramount Leader
Xi Jinping’s early life was marked by both privilege and hardship. As the son of Xi Zhongxun, a prominent figure in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), his initial years were shaped by his father’s political standing. However, this trajectory was disrupted during the Cultural Revolution when his father was purged, leading to Xi’s exile to Yanchuan County, Shaanxi Province. During his teenage years, he resided in a yaodong, a traditional earth shelter, in the village of Liangjiahe. Despite facing adversity, Xi persevered, seeking membership in the CCP, and after multiple attempts, he was eventually accepted and later served as the local party secretary. He pursued higher education at Tsinghua University, studying chemical engineering as a worker-peasant-soldier student, a program designed to provide educational opportunities to individuals from various backgrounds. Following his studies, Xi embarked on a political ascent through China’s coastal provinces, holding significant positions such as governor of Fujian from 1999 to 2002, and subsequently governor and party secretary of Zhejiang from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, he was appointed party secretary of Shanghai, following the dismissal of Chen Liangyu. His career advanced further with his inclusion in the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) of the CCP in the same year, where he also held the position of first-ranking secretary of the Central Secretariat. By 2008, Xi was being positioned as the successor to Hu Jintao as paramount leader, assuming roles such as eighth vice president and vice chairman of the CMC. His authority was solidified in 2016 when he officially received the title of “leadership core” from the CCP, cementing his position at the apex of Chinese leadership.
Xi Jinping’s Domestic Policy Agenda
Since assuming leadership, Xi Jinping has implemented extensive reforms aimed at bolstering the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) authority and solidifying national unity. A signature initiative has been his anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in the removal of numerous high-ranking officials, both active and retired, including individuals like Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee (PSC). In pursuit of “common prosperity,” Xi has launched various policies intended to reduce inequality, including targeted programs to alleviate poverty and a comprehensive crackdown in 2021 targeting the technology and private tutoring industries. Simultaneously, he has increased support for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), prioritized advanced manufacturing and technological development through initiatives like military-civil fusion, and sought to reform the country’s real estate sector. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi initially implemented a strict “zero-COVID” policy from January 2020 to December 2022, characterized by stringent lockdowns and mass testing, before eventually transitioning to a mitigation strategy following widespread public protests.
Xi Jinping’s Foreign Policy Agenda
Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has adopted a more assertive foreign policy stance, particularly evident in its interactions with the United States, its claims within the South China Sea’s nine-dash line, and the ongoing Sino-Indian border dispute. To bolster China’s economic interests on a global scale, Xi has actively sought to expand the nation’s influence across Africa and Eurasia through the Belt and Road Initiative, a large-scale infrastructure development strategy. Furthermore, Xi’s tenure has seen a decline in relations between Beijing and Taipei, especially with Tsai Ing-wen as the Taiwanese president, succeeding Ma Ying-jeou, with whom Xi had a meeting in 2015. In 2020, Xi played a central role in the enactment of a national security law in Hong Kong, which effectively suppressed political opposition and dissent within the city, impacting pro-democracy activists and movements.
Xi Jinping’s Leadership: Centralization of Power and Policy Shifts
Since assuming power, Xi Jinping’s leadership has been marked by notable shifts in governance and policy within the People’s Republic of China. His tenure has seen a tightening of censorship and the expansion of mass surveillance technologies, accompanied by concerns regarding the state of human rights, particularly the treatment of Uyghurs. Observers have also noted the emergence of a cult of personality surrounding Xi, further solidified by the 2018 constitutional amendment that removed presidential term limits. Xi Jinping Thought, his set of political ideas and principles, has been integrated into both the party and national constitutions, signaling its importance in shaping the nation’s direction. As the paramount leader of the fifth generation, Xi has consolidated institutional power through the establishment of new CCP committees focused on critical areas such as national security, economic and social reforms, military modernization, and internet governance. His continued dominance was confirmed in October 2022 when he secured a third term as CCP General Secretary, followed by his re-election as state president in March 2023, an unprecedented extension of his leadership.
Early Life and Family Background of Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping was born in Beijing on June 15, 1953, as the third child of Xi Zhongxun and Qi Xin. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was a prominent figure in the early People’s Republic of China (PRC), holding significant positions such as chief of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party, vice premier, and vice chairperson of the National People’s Congress. Xi Jinping has two older sisters, Qi Qiaoqiao, born in 1949, and Qi An’an, born in 1952. The family’s ancestral roots trace back to Fuping County in Shaanxi province, providing a historical and geographical context to Xi Jinping’s upbringing.
Xi Jinping’s early education took place in Beijing during the 1960s, where he attended Beijing Bayi School, followed by Beijing No. 25 School. During this time, he formed a friendship with Liu He, a student at Beijing No. 101 School located in the same district. This connection would prove significant later in Xi’s life, as Liu He eventually became China’s vice premier and a close advisor after Xi Jinping rose to become the country’s paramount leader. However, Xi’s childhood was also marked by political upheaval. In 1963, when he was ten years old, his father was purged from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and sent to work in a factory in Luoyang, Henan province. The onset of the Cultural Revolution in May 1966 further disrupted Xi’s education, as secondary classes were suspended, and students were encouraged to criticize and challenge their teachers. The Xi family was directly impacted by the violence and chaos of the Cultural Revolution, with student militants ransacking their home. Tragically, one of Xi’s sisters, Xi Heping, reportedly died as a result of persecution during this tumultuous period.
The political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution significantly impacted Xi Jinping’s early life. The persecution of his father, Xi Zhongxun, a prominent revolutionary figure, began to shape Xi Jinping’s experiences during his formative years. His mother was compelled to publicly denounce his father, who was then paraded as an enemy of the revolution, culminating in his imprisonment in 1968, when Xi Jinping was 15 years old. Amidst this upheaval, Xi Jinping applied to the Bayi School’s Reform Committee, requesting to leave Beijing for the countryside, a decision influenced by Chairman Mao Zedong’s Down to the Countryside Movement. On January 13, 1969, Xi Jinping, along with other youths, arrived in Liangjiahe Village, Yan’an, Shaanxi. The stark contrast between his previous life and the backward rural conditions of Yan’an presented considerable challenges. Xi Jinping has recalled overcoming “five hurdles” – fleas, food, life, labor, and thought – during his time there, an experience that fostered a connection with the rural poor. However, after a few months, he briefly fled back to Beijing, finding himself arrested and sent to a work camp for desertion before eventually returning to Liangjiahe, persuaded by his aunt and uncle. He subsequently became the party secretary of Liangjiahe, residing in a cave house during his tenure.
Following his initial assignment, Xi Jinping spent a total of seven years in Yanchuan County. In 1973, he was dispatched to Zhaojiahe Village within the Jiajianping Commune, tasked with spearheading social education initiatives. His work in Zhaojiahe was reportedly successful, and he established a strong connection with the local population, leading to a desire among the villagers for him to remain in their community. However, after advocacy from Liangjiahe Village, where he had previously worked, Xi Jinping returned to Liangjiahe in July of the same year. While in Liangjiahe, village branch secretaries Liang Yuming and Liang Youhua championed his application to join the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Despite submitting ten applications, early attempts were thwarted due to the ongoing political persecution of his father, Xi Zhongxun. It wasn’t until Bai Guangxing, the new commune secretary, acknowledged Xi’s abilities and potential that his application was finally forwarded to the CCP Yanchuan County Committee, ultimately gaining approval in early 1974. Concurrent with this approval, leadership changes occurred within Liangjiahe village, and Xi Jinping was recommended for the position of Party branch chairman of the Liangjiahe Brigade.
Early Initiatives in Liangjiahe
Upon assuming his role, Xi Jinping identified a potential solution to the fuel shortages plaguing his village, Liangjiahe. Inspired by the biogas technology he observed in Mianyang, Sichuan, Xi made a journey to learn about biogas digesters firsthand. His subsequent implementation of this technology in Liangjiahe proved to be a significant achievement, representing a breakthrough in Shaanxi province that quickly gained traction throughout the surrounding areas. Beyond biogas, Xi spearheaded multiple initiatives aimed at alleviating the village’s economic and production struggles. These efforts included leading the drilling of wells to secure a reliable water supply, organizing iron industry cooperatives, reclaiming land for agricultural purposes, introducing the cultivation of flue-cured tobacco, and establishing sales outlets to facilitate trade. In 1975, an opportunity arose when Yanchuan County received a placement at Tsinghua University. The CCP Yanchuan County Committee recognized Xi’s potential and recommended him for admission. This led to Xi Jinping’s enrollment at Tsinghua University from 1975 to 1979, where he pursued studies in chemical engineering as a worker-peasant-soldier student in Beijing.
