Xi Jinping rises to conquer

Behind the ascent of the powerful leader in China run deep insecurities in party and state.

Written by Praveen Swami | Updated: November 2, 2017 11:03 am

xi jinping, communist party of china, mao zedong

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping claps while addressing the media as he introduces new members of the Politburo Standing Committee. (AP/PTI Photo)

In 1972, a battered, greying man, who had been among China’s most powerful men before he was imprisoned by Mao Zedong, emerged from 10 years in isolation to meet with his family. Xi Zhongxun “looked at his two grown boys, and totally failed to recognise them”, a biographer recorded. He began to weep, and one of the sons offered him a cigarette. The father was startled by the gesture, considered disrespectful in traditional society. “We’ve also made it through tough times over these years,” the son replied.