The book covers a crucial period when Xi Jinping, despite inner-Party opposition, decided to continue in China’s top three leadership positions for an unprecedented third term. It explores the popular dissatisfaction accentuated by the slowing economy, loss of millions of jobs, low salaries and rising prices, and Xi Jinping imposing progressively stringent controls on the populace to quell dissatisfaction from metamorphosing into uncontrollable protests. Xi Jinping also introduced administrative curbs and monitoring of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s Politburo members accompanied by intensive ideological and political education of CCP cadres and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel. Xi Jinping even personally vetted each cadre for the CCP Central Committee. The trade war with the US has exacerbated China’s economic difficulties.
The book shows Xi Jinping’s thus far unwavering efforts to make China a major world power rivalling, if not surpassing, the US by 2049. China has accordingly continued its aggressive policies to dominate Asia and effect the “rejuvenation” of China including reunification with Taiwan.
Rejuvenation, which includes “recovery” of so-called “lost” territories ensuring friction, interspersed with conflict, between India and China over the longer term is examined.
Jayadeva Ranade
is President of the ‘Centre for China Analysis and Strategy’. He has twice been a member of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) (2013-2015 & 2023-2025). He retired as Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India in August 2008.
He has specialised for over 45 years in analysing developments relating to China, Tibet and East Asia and his foreign assignments include Hong Kong, Beijing and Washington DC.
He obtained a Diploma of Advanced Proficiency in Chinese from the Jawaharlal Nehru University and a Certificate and Diploma in Mandarin from the University of Hong Kong.
He was conferred both the highest awards of the Organisations out of turn.
He is a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), New Delhi and Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi. He is also a Member of the Core Group on China of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
He is author of ‘China Unveiled: Insights into Chinese Strategic Thinking’, ‘Xi Jinping’s China’; ‘Cadres of Tibet’; and ‘Xi Jinping: China’s Third New Era’. He is also Editor of ‘Strategic Challenges: India 2030’.
Contents
Preface
1. Xi Jinping and The Portends for His Third Term
2. Xi Jinping Begins Appointing Loyalists to Key Posts
3. Xi Jinping Appears Set for The Next Term at China’s Helm
4. Troubled Times Ahead for China and Xi Jinping
5. Xi Jinping is Taking Steps to Avoid Any Surprise by The Opposition
6. Purges in Security Apparatus Indicate Xi Jinping Faces Resistance
7. Xi Jinping’s New Security Satraps
8. Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s Demise Reveals Extent of Discontent in China
9. Xi Jinping Preparing to Initiate Another ‘Party Rectification’
10. Xi Jinping’s Leadership Appears to be Facing Opposition
11. Xi Jinping Tightens His Grip on the Security Apparatus
12. China’s Big Two Sessions’ Confirm Xi Jinping as China’s Pre-Eminent Unrivalled Leader
13. Xi Jinping’s Latest Campaign: ‘Theme Education’
14. Former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s Absence Points to Discord in Senior Echelons of the CCP
15. Unusual Developments in China
16. Chinese President Xi Jinping Beset by Growing Popular Discontent
17. Xi Jinping Reinforces Security Apparatus Amidst Growing Popular Discontent’
18. Chinese President Xi Jinping Bolsters Position at National People’s Congress
19. Signs of Disquiet in Chinese Communist Party as 20th Congress Draws Near
20. ‘Xi Jinping and CCP Leadership Wary of Colour Revolution before 20th Party Congress’
21. China’s Communist Party Revises its History Yet Again in Time for Use by Xi Jinping
22. Quick Glimpse into China’s Upcoming Annual ‘Big Two’ Sessions
23. Highlights of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s Government Work Report Presented to NPC and CPPCC Deputies on March 5, 2021
24. Xi Jinping’s Centenary Speech Exudes Confidence and Determination
25. China’s Communist Party Celebrates its Centenary – What Next?
26. Assessment of China’s 20th Party Congress
27. Xi Jinping further Strengthens Chinese Communist Party’s ‘Magic Weapon’ – The United Front Work Department
28. Xi Jinping’s New Slogan of Common Prosperity is Worrying People
29. ‘China’s Central Economic Work Conference Flags the Difficulties Ahead’
30. China’s Deteriorating Economy Has Created Instability for Xi Jinping
31. China’s Central Finance and Economic Affairs Work Conference Reveals Emphasis on Security and Development
32. Quick Assessment of the Chinese Communist Party’s Third Plenum
33. Fears of ‘Colour Revolution’ in People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
34. Initial Analysis of Leaked Video of Chinese War Preparedness Exercise in Guangdong
35. Signs of Western Theatre Command’s Importance Before Upcoming 20th Party Congress
36. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and China’s 20th Party Congress
37. ‘China’s New Leadership is Preparing for A Military Threat’
38. Indication of Disarray in PLA and Imminent ‘Rectification Campaign’
39. China’s 14th National People’s Congress Session Gives New Direction to PLA
40. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s New Information Support Force
41. Tibet Government Chairman Projects That Tibet is Headed for Major Changes
42. ‘China Intensifies Campaign to Assimilate Tibetans into Mainstream Han Culture’
43. China is Replacing Ethnic Languages with Mandarin
44. ‘CPPCC Chairman Wang Yang’s Visit to Tibet Autonomous Region is Important’
45. China’s Efforts to Erase The Dalai Lama’s Influence and Promote Panchen Lama are Yielding Minimal Results
46. Xi Jinping’s Visit to Tibet is Important and Has Implications for India
47. Tibet: The Fulcrum of China’s Strategic Policy in the Himalayas
48. China Has Just Raised The Level of Threat for India
49. Implications of Recent Developments in PLA’s Western Theatre Command
50. Some Chinese Assessments of India’s Geo-Economic and Foreign Policies
51. ‘Xi Jinping’s Upgrading of The PLA and Implication for India’
52. ‘Border Security is Receiving Higher Salience in Tibet’
53. Indications of Elevated Military Preparations in Tibet
54. ‘China is Unbending on Improving Relations With India’
55. Slowing Economy Has Prompted China’s Conciliatory Posture Towards India
56. Chinese Foreign Minister Highlights Main Features of China’s Foreign Policy
57. Chinese Reactions to US President Trump’s Policies on Taiwan
58. Views of Chinese Experts on Sino-US Relations
59. Chinese Assessments of The US and West and Sanctions on Russia
60. Assessment of US Secretary of State Blinken’s Two-Day Visit to China
61. China-US: Limited Rapprochement Afoot?
62. Initial Assessment of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Three Nation European Tour
63. Brief Review of The Recent Xi-Putin Summit
64. Chinese Criticisms of China’s Support to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
65. Russia-China: Implications of the Unequal Relationship
66. Portends of the Xi-Putin Summit in May 2024
67. Will China’s Ambitions with Iran Materialise?
68. China-Pakistan Strategic Nexus: Implications for India
69. Rising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
70. China Is Raising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
71. ‘Rising Tension in Taiwan Strait is Cause for Concern’
Glossary
Index
Political Science
download catalogue
