Link to Twitter thread. Content of the post below.

So recently I read the first book of Xi’s Governance of China series, and because I’m primarily on Twitter I did a thread on what I found interesting. Since I went through the trouble of writing that up, I thought I might as well share it here also. Since this is from twitter, I didn’t explain everything in detail, but if you want to learn more you should just read the book yourself. Hope you enjoy.

First off, for those that don’t know, this book was made with the intent to help the world understand China’s policies, and I went into it with that intent in mind. Not to try and glorify or demonize China, but to try and get some insight into their decision making.

One of the first things I found as a reader was that Xi divides China’s history into two phases: before and after the reform and opening up. He makes it clear though that they haven’t abandoned Socialism or Marxism, and MZT still plays a decisive role in their politics.

The CPC, guided by Xi, is deeply committed to serving the people, providing them with a better life, and employing the Mass Line. They also give a tip priority to the planning of the economy (which is explained in greater detail later).

One of the profound things in the book is exactly how Xi explains what exactly the “Reform and Opening up” is. I thought this just meant the market economy, and becoming integrated with the world affairs, and this is partly true, but there is more to it.

Xi explains that the Reform and Opening up is an “in depth revolution.” It is their direction to continuously self-improve and develop socialism. It means that China is constantly changing and as it changes they need to constantly reform the system in order to improve.

“Reform and opening up is an in-depth and all-round social transformation… Reform and opening up is always an ongoing task and will never end.” To me, this seems like a highly dialectical outlook on their affairs.

Xi affirms that Socialism with Chinese Characteristics IS Socialism, but acknowledges that China as a country is still developing and is only in the primary stage of socialism, or the low stage, and that they will remain so until they are a fully developed economy.

Xi stresses the importance of democracy being institutionalized and not being changed whenever leadership changes (which to me looks like they are still wary about a potential revisionist like Krushchev). Of Course Xi made it a big focus to root out corruption.

Xi emphasizes that they are now much stronger than they used to be, but that they are strongly committed to PEACEFUL DEVELOPMENT, and that they have no desire to seek hegemony and bully or assert their views onto weaker nations.

One of the great things about this book is that it was published in 2014 with many speeches taking place many years before that. So six years later we can examine whether or not Xi has been able to deliver on his promises, which in many if not all cases appears to be yes.

Xi talks extensively about the importance of eradicating poverty. “It is the essential requirement of socialism to eradicate poverty, improve the people’s livelihood and achieve common prosperity.”

“It is a requirement for social fairness and justice as well as an important measure for the people to share the fruits of reform and development.” Now many years later, we can see that some parts of China are still poor, but they have indeed eliminated extreme poverty.

Xi emphasizes in greater detail that China is dedicated to peaceful development. “The Chinese nation loves peace. To abolish war and achieve peace has been the most pressing and profound aspiration of the Chinese people since the advent of modern times.”

“With the agonizing sufferings inflicted by war etched in our memory, we Chinese cherish peace and stability. What we abhor is turbulence, what we want is stability and what we hope to see is world peace.”

In tandem with this, he supports nations rights to self-determination and choosing their own social system and path of development.

Xi says that cooperation with African nations has always been important to China’s foreign policy, and that this will never change. He also says that as China grows stronger, it will continue to provide assistance to Africa WITH NO POLITICAL STRINGS ATTACHED.

While talking about the silk road, Xi explains that China seeks common development, aiming for a better life for Chinese people AND THE PEOPLE OF OTHER COUNTRIES.

One of the things I noticed in my own personal study of China’s economy was the slowdown of growth from an average increase in GDP from 10% a year to 7% or 6%. Xi explains that this was an intentional move, designed to ensure the long-term development of China.

As Xi puts it, “Killing the goose to get the eggs or draining the pond to catch the fish is no formula for sustainable development.”

The last thing I found noteworthy is that Xi stresses the importance of maintaining close ties with the people. He says that this is essential to improving the Party’s conduct, and “Losing contact with the people would pose the gravest threat to the party.”

This is just my opinion, but I have not found any red flags indicating that they have retreated from Socialism or abandoned Marxism.

China has a hybrid economy that is one part capitalist market, but is at the end of the day, under the control of the communist party, not the other way around.

China is also committed to peaceful development, and I think, at least in this stage, some comrades are asking too much of them if they think that in order to be truly socialist they must personally intervene wherever there is injustice in the world. Yes, we’d all love that, but this sentiment reeks of idealism.

I have also ordered Volumes 2 and 3, and I very much look forward to seeing how they have changed.