Chinese President Amasses Political Support

Before Chinese President Xi Jinping left China for the U.S., he had been attending the funerals of former officials, hoping to garner allies as China contends with a lagging economy, reports Reuters. The president maintains that China’s economy is stabilizing against the backdrop of a turbulent world economy. China has suffered through market instability, a declining yuan and lower domestic demand.

Before Chinese President Xi Jinping left China for the U.S., he had been attending the funerals of former officials, hoping to garner allies as China contends with a lagging economy, reports Reuters. The president maintains that China’s economy is stabilizing against the backdrop of a turbulent world economy. China has suffered through market instability, a declining yuan and lower domestic demand.

Even though a single party rules China, certain factions vie for power within the government. For instance, rightist party members favor market-oriented policies, while those on the opposite spectrum prefer a stricter form of communism that minimizes capitalism. It is not certain where Xi falls on the scale, but he is stretching his political tentacles where he can, even going so far as to attend the funeral of leftist leader Deng Liqun, a political foe of his father.

Xi is not simply attending funerals to make new friends but to let everyone know that his mere presence signals his ultimate authority within the party and over the nation. At a time when the economy is weak, Xi must shore up his support base while showing the opposition that he has a solid handle on the economy.

Cleaning House

The president has made some enemies through his anti-corruption campaign; a policy, which many argue, is a factor that is tanking the economy. Certain analysts believe Chinese corruption is a necessary evil that allows companies to bypass a tangled bureaucracy to keep the economy moving, but Xi disagrees, believing a clean government will benefit the state in the end. On the other hand, many believe Xi has failed to live up to his campaign promise to fight corruption, with many supporters doubting his leadership on the issue, while giving his enemies the necessary ammunition to attack him.

Further, critics cite Xi’s anti-corruption measures as a way of getting rid of political enemies and gaining more power, and the president has garnered the most power since Mao Zedong. Xi has a long way to go in his term, with his governance ending in 2023, but he must assure his people and the world that China is going through a temporary skirmish and his policies are working. He stated that the economy is “within proper range,” according to CNN Money.

Labor Troubles

Xi is also catering to the business community, especially American companies, because foreign investment is a key element that will push China forward. However, emerging markets such as Vietnam pose a threat to China’s labor market by offering a cheaper workforce, and the government needs to find ways of adapting in order to attract more investment.

China also has an image problem, most notably its pollution, an issue that has detracted some overseas investors. Chinese officials are doing tackling pollution by decreasing coal usage, and combined with transparency and market fairness, China stands a chance of achieving a better impression on the world stage.