Chinese media evokes image of Titanic to endorse reformist Xi Jinping keeping nation afloat

President Xi Jinping is personally in charge of all major political initiatives in China lest the nation sinks like the Titanic, according to a Southern Weekly article that is seen as a move to endorse his reform agenda, bolster his image and to justify his concentration of power.

Shortly after Xi took power as Communist Party chief three years ago, he paid a visit to Shenzhen in what was widely seen as a symbolic move to assert his determination for further economic reform.

State media at the time quoted him as saying there would be "no stop in reform and no stop in opening up" and that "reform and opening up was a great awakening in the party's history".

Guangdong was said to have been chosen because of the province's history as the testing ground for reform launched by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping more than three decades earlier.

At a key party policy meeting in 2013, the third plenum, Xi pledged to give market competition a "decisive role" in the economy, step up the anti-corruption drive, strengthen judicial independence and set up two powerful party organs - headed by Xi himself - to deepen reforms and to formulate a national security strategy. The communiqué stopped short of mentioning any political reform move.

Political observers say the party is facing many obstacles to Xi's economic and military reform agenda.