I don’t think those who support Xi’s move are insane or mentally retarted. On the contrary, I think they are shrewd and calculating. I also agree that a lot of people will benefit from such move tremendously. However, who are these people? They are probably Chinese elites on Xi’s side, Xi’s cronies, and Xi’s lackeys. Too bad that most ordinary Chinese probably will not benefit as much as these people.
I meant the ordinary people, hundreds of millions like me who don't have a vote but support Xi and this change anyway. Can you not see our point of view? Judging by your revision, it seems you maybe can, because you just said that we would not benefit
as much as Xi's cabinet and of course I agree (since they get all the benefits we get plus job security) but I believe we will all benefit from this.
Scrapping an established succession mechanism 20-years in the making, then start from scratch again after Xi's rein, without any guarantee of success, sounds like a waste of effort/resource to me, especially considering how difficult it was to put the mechanism together the first time around, through murky political horse-trading and all.
That's how progress is made. Scrapping the old, making the new; never is there a guarantee of success in life. Those who have the courage to undertake this have a chance to come out champions; those who cling to the past will be left in the past.
I do not really worry about anti-China drivel. I just hate to see the Chinese government giving the China-bashing media any opportunity to throw more cheap shots at China.
Like I said, black is white and white is black for them. If any part of what they say influences what you do, for example, avoiding things that you think might give them "opportunity" (AKA seeking their approval), that's the only way they win. Honestly, I like it when I hear them talk; it smells like fear.
That’s what I don’t understand. Why don’t they purpose to extend the term limit by 5 years, instead of scrapping it altogether? On the other hand, I think 5-10 years is sufficient time to find someone who is as competent as Xi. After all, there are no irreplaceable politicians. As the saying goes: “the graveyards are full of indispensable men.”
5-10 years is enough time??!! LOL How many decades has it been since Deng for us to get Xi?? We're not talking about finding someone who can do as well as him on the SAT's here. We're talking about an all-round leader as competent and beloved as him. And you honestly don't even know if you have a winner until the rookie's a good few years in! Nobody's irreplaceable and the world will still turn with anyone gone but it does not mean that you eject great leaders for no reason! Statistically speaking, the next guy's probably gonna be worse than Xi and not as familiar with Xi's reforms as Xi is. That guy is not going to be a good replacement, though China will live through it.
I sincerely hope that you are right and I’m wrong, that the nature of the Chinse government will have no bearing on people’s decision to stay and work in China. Time shall tell, though.
It will probably have a positive bearing because with Xi seeing China through this transition to become more powerful and mature, China will be even more attractive to sea turtles. It's all about the competence and morals of the premier, not how often he's changed out.
Xi shows his disrespect to the Chinese constitution by attempting to change it at his whim. Arguing otherwise needs evidence what exact legal and political venue Xi has gone through to reach this stage. Unfortunately, transparency is not the forte of CCP, so for us casual observers, Xi has arrived at this point rather suddenly.
No, Xi shows his respect to the constitution by updating it with the current vote as opposed to breaking it and seizing control by military force. If you really think that this hasn't been in the making behind the scenes for a long time and that Xi just woke up one day and stumbled onto it by his "whim" then we probably need to stop talking. You're just not there in terms of understanding and reasoning.
I hate to repeat myself. But my argument is that it would be hard to get rid of those corrupt officials who are on the side of Xi, if Xi stays in power forever.
Yeah, but at least Xi has an active anti-corruption drive. Who else have purged corruption like Xi? I hate to repeat myself as well but I'd prefer the couple of rogue corrupt officials sneaking around under Xi's radar than the whole system being a cesspool of dirty politicians whose corruption is an open secret. No one, not even Xi, can eradicate corruption, but he can reduce it by cracking down and hopefully using time to change the culture. No other premier has done that.
China’s enemies may find Xi’s weakness to exploit someday. It’s not a good ideal to rely on one-man rule. I know China is actually ruled by committee. But Xi has become the strongest leader since Deng.
Uh huh and you're not worried about this happening with the next guy? We know that so far, Xi's been upstanding. What about the next guy? The next guy's morals could be Swiss cheese compared to Xi's as far as we know. I am far more concerned with next guy being bribed into putty from all sides internal and external within his first year in office than someone finding any "weakness" in Xi. But as I said before, if Xi starts to slip sometime in the far future, there should be a way to retire him. Just because they haven't laid out the details before us as to how doesn't mean they don't have a plan.
You misunderstood what I said. A country’s reputation has nothing to do with term limits, but has everything to do with if the country’s constitution is respected by its own leaders. Furthermore, I do not agree with you opinion that “might is right”. Finally, as someone already said, unless it’s a banana republic, all those countries that do not have term limits have popular votes.
"Might is right" is the law of the universe regardless of whether you or I agree. Big animals eat small animals; big countries conquer small countries and annex them, it is inescapable. Countries earn respect by economic and military force. You cannot disrespect a greater force; it is against the laws of physics.
They can have term limits or not and they can have popular vote or not. They are not China. No rule anywhere says you need one or the other. I think you are really drinking that Western cool-aid without knowing it. First you worry about China's "reputation" to foreign talent, then you talk about how we should go along with their ways so they have less reason to write bad things about us, and now this?? You're actually hinting that China should be a democracy with popular vote?? You better check yourself to see which team you're still on. China doesn't have to follow any models of any country anywhere; China creates its own systems and earns its own successes to the awe and disbelief of those who think with a western mind. That's how China rolls and that's how China pulls ahead. If you can't fathom it, just keep watching.
I’m sorry, but Xi is not upholding the Chinese constitution. He is trying to change it inappropriately, breaking China’s façade of “rule of law”.
I'm sorry but you don't know what you're talking about. Whether or not Xi is upholding Chinese law comes down to one simple question: Did he do anything illegal? If he did, point it out. If not, if making changes to the constitution is not illegal, then you've got no case; he's factually upholding the law.
I don't think you understand what a constitution is. It's a piece of paper with words on it. It is not unchangeable, sacred, or holy. If lawmakers feel that one if its rules is more of a liability than an asset, it can be eliminated or changed by legal process. And that is what is happening. You are acting like people are scribbling over the 10 holy commandments of God here (I'm not religious and don't believe that) when its actually just people in a room who are changing a set of rules that other people in the same room made up years ago. Constitution = made by people, can be changed/ unmade by people. Nothing taboo about it.
