Xi Jinping
1953 – ? Chinese general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, president of China
Leader of China since 2012 who has concentrated power, pushed an assertive foreign policy, and removed presidential term limits.
- Religion
- atheist
- Affiliations
- Chinese Communist Party
Xi Jinping took over as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012 and became the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao. He launched a wide anti-corruption drive that also removed rivals, tightened party and state control over the economy and society, and had presidential term limits abolished in 2018, clearing the way to rule indefinitely. Abroad he pursued a more assertive line through the Belt and Road Initiative and pressure over Taiwan and the South China Sea. His tenure has drawn criticism over the mass detention of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and the crushing of dissent in Hong Kong.
Connections
- successor of Deng Xiaoping — A later leader who kept the party's control but reversed Deng's move away from strongman rule.
- successor of Deng Xiaoping — Kept Deng's party-led economy but moved back toward one-man rule Deng had tried to limit.
In the timeline
- 2012 Xi Jinping takes power the incoming leader
- 2013 Belt and Road Initiative expands Chinese scholarships mentioned
- 2016 Xi Jinping visits Ecuador, signs energy deals central figure
- 2022 China and Gulf states discuss oil sales in yuan mentioned