https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/167218/feed Born in 1942 and Chinese president since 2003, Anhui native Hu Jintao had been posted to Gansu, Guizhou and Tibet during his climb up the party ranks, and first became a member of the Politburo’s standing committee in 1992. He graduated from Tsinghua University in 1964 with a degree in engineering. The Communist Youth League is known to be a staunch supporter of Hu. He retired as General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party's Central Military Commission... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Dennis Wilder Dennis Wilder Let me begin by wishing those planning Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the US on September 24 the best of luck, something I didn’t have in 2006, when president George W. Bush invited president Hu Jintao to the White House. After you read this, you may wonder how I was able to keep my job. All I can say is, Bush was a very forgiving boss. This story begins in January 2006. I had just been elevated from China director to acting special assistant to the president and senior director... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367969/word-wise-organising-chinese-leaders-us-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367969/word-wise-organising-chinese-leaders-us-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Chinese President Xi Jinping led the party elite in paying a final tribute to former premier Zhu Rongji, who was cremated on Tuesday as national flags flew at half mast across the country and beyond. Zhu died of an illness in Beijing last Wednesday aged 97. He served as premier from 1998 to 2003 and is regarded as the chief engineer of the country’s economic reform, having played a pivotal role in transitioning China towards a market-based economy and steering its entry into the World Trade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364422/chinese-president-xi-jinping-leads-party-elite-final-farewell-ex-premier-zhu-rongji?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3364422/chinese-president-xi-jinping-leads-party-elite-final-farewell-ex-premier-zhu-rongji?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 08:48:58 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan Former US Treasury secretary Henry Paulson has urged Washington and Beijing to manage their escalating strategic competition to prevent it spiralling into broader conflict, warning that deepening distrust now poses a greater risk than trade imbalances. The US-China relationship was “the most consequential” in the world, requiring careful stewardship as rivalry sharpened across trade, technology and security, he said. “We have to be careful that the decoupling does not become... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356720/do-not-let-us-china-ties-spiral-out-control-ex-treasury-chief-paulson-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356720/do-not-let-us-china-ties-spiral-out-control-ex-treasury-chief-paulson-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:00:05 +0000 Jun Mai Jun Mai Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s chief of staff Cai Qi, the fifth most senior official in the ruling Communist Party, was chosen to lead the Central Party School, Beijing’s leading academy for cadres. The Central Party School is not just any training site for Chinese officials, but part of a nationwide system that Xi considers key to the ideological purity of the party and important for the expertise needed by senior officials across the country. Who were previous heads? In the past... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356520/why-new-party-academy-role-held-xi-jinpings-chief-staff-important-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356520/why-new-party-academy-role-held-xi-jinpings-chief-staff-important-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan,Xinlu Liang Cao Jiaxuan,Xinlu Liang Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised the shared sacrifices and deep historical ties between China and North Korea during a visit to a historic mountainside in Pyongyang on Tuesday. Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan paid tribute at the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower in Moran Hill, accompanied by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju. Honour guards placed a floral basket at the monument with a ribbon inscribed with the words “The martyrs of the Chinese People’s Volunteer (CPV) Army... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356485/xi-jinpings-visit-north-korean-war-monument-evokes-eternal-historical-memory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3356485/xi-jinpings-visit-north-korean-war-monument-evokes-eternal-historical-memory?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:44:23 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma Cai Qi, the fifth-ranked member in the Communist Party’s hierarchy, has been picked to head the Central Party School, the top training ground for cadres. Cai, 70, sits on the elite Politburo Standing Committee and is secretary of the party’s secretariat as well as director of the party’s general office. Responsible for daily operations of the party’s nerve centre, Cai is often referred to as President Xi Jinping’s chief of staff. His new post at the party school means that he will also oversee... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356162/xi-jinpings-chief-staff-cai-qi-takes-central-party-school-helm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3356162/xi-jinpings-chief-staff-cai-qi-takes-central-party-school-helm?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:10:27 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai The chandeliers glittered at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday night when Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump raised a toast to a “fantastic” summit. “It was a fantastic day, and in particular, I want to thank President Xi, my friend, for this magnificent welcome ... and for so graciously hosting us on this very historic state visit,” Trump said, nearly nine years after his first presidential trip to the Chinese capital. The banquet capped a day that yielded a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353605/toast-tastes-and-tech-selfie-crowned-us-china-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353605/toast-tastes-and-tech-selfie-crowned-us-china-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 14:17:36 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang The former chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), has called for cross-strait dialogue to break the state of “cold peace”, rebuild trust and avoid conflict. “The key to cross-strait relations lies not in radical confrontation, but in profound mutual trust,” Hung Hsiu-chu wrote on a popular mainland online platform on Thursday. She also called for a return to the 1992 consensus, an unofficial agreement between Beijing and the then-ruling KMT in Taiwan. It states that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3348979/no-more-cold-peace-across-taiwan-strait-former-kmt-chairwoman-calls-rebuild-trust?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:09:15 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Like any revolutionary technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is morally neutral – it’s the use to which it is put that makes it harmful or beneficial. But as I examined last week in this space, it’s America’s tech bros and their alliance with the US military, not AI itself, who are the real terminators of jobs and human lives. While they are obsessed with achieving AI supremacy, Chinese policymakers have been far more concerned about regulating it, mitigating its impact on job losses and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3347507/china-ai-about-job-creation-and-quality-not-mass-retrenchments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3347507/china-ai-about-job-creation-and-quality-not-mass-retrenchments?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:41:44 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service. Liao, 85, who was in charge of overhauling military logistics, died on January 23, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral. “[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics,” the report said. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3341735/communist-warrior-chinas-leaders-pay-tribute-late-general-liao-xilong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3341735/communist-warrior-chinas-leaders-pay-tribute-late-general-liao-xilong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:22 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The Communist Party and Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) appear to be in the final stages of talks to revive an inter-party forum suspended nine years ago. The three-day forum, designed to facilitate party-to-party communication and promote cross-strait exchanges, was scheduled to start in Beijing on January 27, Taiwan’s China Times newspaper reported on Friday. If it takes place, it will be the first time the event has been held since 2016, when it was suspended because of tensions between the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3339374/are-communist-party-and-kmt-reviving-cross-strait-political-channel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3339374/are-communist-party-and-kmt-reviving-cross-strait-political-channel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:01:08 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung A plan by the chairwoman of Taiwan’s main opposition party to visit Beijing this year, hoping to meet President Xi Jinping, has fuelled hopes of better dialogue amid soaring cross-strait tensions. But while supporters have hailed Cheng Li-wun’s planned trip as a chance to ease frictions across the Taiwan Strait, critics warn that it risks signalling alignment with Beijing as it increases military pressure on the island. Cheng, who was elected chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT) in October, has... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3338624/new-kmt-chair-hopes-take-peace-message-beijing-while-taiwan-political-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3338624/new-kmt-chair-hopes-take-peace-message-beijing-while-taiwan-political-tightrope?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:00:19 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Mexico’s 50% tariff shock shuts Asia’s North American trade bypass 2. China warns India: ‘don’t even think about stealing our sixth Dalai Lama’ 3. Hong Kong district officer apologises over outfit choice at firefighter’s funeral 4. Thailand’s tourism crown slips as troubles in paradise mount 5.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3337269/scientist-hu-haitao-leaves-us-china-mexico-tariff-shock-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3337269/scientist-hu-haitao-leaves-us-china-mexico-tariff-shock-5-weekend-reads-you-missed?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 04:30:08 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham With the end of the year approaching, the European Commission is rapidly ramping up its de-risking efforts through a flurry of broadsides against Chinese firms – even as the bloc’s most powerful member states appear to be moving in different directions on China. Foreign subsidy regulation probes were launched against online retailer Temu and Nuctech, a maker of airport scanning equipment, on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. E-commerce giant Temu saw its Dublin headquarters raided by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3336127/brussels-ramps-china-de-risking-while-france-and-germany-pull-further-apart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3336127/brussels-ramps-china-de-risking-while-france-and-germany-pull-further-apart?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:56:21 +0000 Carl Zhang Carl Zhang Chinese military parades are known for their spectacular goose-stepping and formations, but they also provide important hints about the structure of the People’s Liberation Army and its new weapons. The history of these parades highlights how the PLA has evolved from being a guerrilla force that relied on captured foreign weapons to a modern force that aims to compete with the US in terms of combat ability and advanced equipment. Mao Zedong 1949-1959 The first of these parades was held on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3323814/how-chinas-military-parades-evolved-over-years-guerrilla-warfare-hi-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3323814/how-chinas-military-parades-evolved-over-years-guerrilla-warfare-hi-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:01:18 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting with five Central Asian leaders on Tuesday, looking to deepen ties in a region rich in natural resources and strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The heads of energy-rich Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are all attending the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, the Kazakh capital. The gathering, which comes two years after China hosted the first summit in Xian, was expected to focus on security... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3314768/xi-boosts-china-ties-resource-rich-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3314768/xi-boosts-china-ties-resource-rich-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:04:16 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Russia’s fresh bid to revive a strategic triangle with China and India as a counterbalance to the Western-led international order faces headwinds given the deep-seated distrust between the two Asian powers, according to observers. However, United States President Donald Trump and his aggressive and unpredictable policies could be the catalyst to bring the three together, one analyst says. The assessment was made as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov objected to what he described as Nato’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313146/russia-moves-again-join-china-and-india-despite-trust-issues-border-disputes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313146/russia-moves-again-join-china-and-india-despite-trust-issues-border-disputes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:00:22 +0000 Before Lee Hsien Loong handed over the leadership of Singapore to Lawrence Wong on Wednesday, he identified bilateral relations with China as some of the city state’s most important. Though Lee will remain in the cabinet as senior minister, it will be up to Prime Minister Wong to shepherd Singapore-China relations. What legacy, on this front, does Lee leave for his successor? Lee’s term as prime minister saw Singapore deal with two different administrations in China – Hu Jintao as party general... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3263137/singapore-china-ties-lawrence-wong-inherits-lee-hsien-loong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3263137/singapore-china-ties-lawrence-wong-inherits-lee-hsien-loong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 May 2024 02:30:18 +0000 Ahead of President Xi Jinping’s three-nation tour of Europe starting on Sunday, Brussels has cranked up the pressure on Beijing with a series of blistering salvoes intended to send strong political messages to the Chinese leadership. European Union trade, competition and digital authorities have been cracking down on Chinese firms in increasingly dramatic fashion, while its sanctions officers are turning up the heat on companies accused of funnelling European-made goods to Russia’s war... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3261372/eu-turns-heat-china-xi-jinping-readies-3-nation-tour-fiery-paris-talks-cards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3261372/eu-turns-heat-china-xi-jinping-readies-3-nation-tour-fiery-paris-talks-cards?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 May 2024 14:00:27 +0000 Hu Haifeng, the only son of former Chinese president Hu Jintao, was promoted on Tuesday to be China’s deputy civil affairs minister after serving five years as the Communist Party boss of a small city in eastern China. The much-watched appointment was announced by the State Council, China’s cabinet. The promotion will elevate Hu, 51, to vice-ministerial rank which marks an important step in the career advancement of Chinese officials. The ministry handles welfare, social groups and marriage,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3248656/former-chinese-president-hu-jintaos-son-hu-haifeng-promoted-deputy-minister-after-serving-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3248656/former-chinese-president-hu-jintaos-son-hu-haifeng-promoted-deputy-minister-after-serving-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:06:54 +0000 The optics were more low-key for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden at a country estate just outside San Francisco on Wednesday, six years after his last visit to the United States. Xi’s host for that visit in April 2017 was Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, who welcomed the Chinese leader to his Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida less than three months after taking office. The bridge-building summit was loaded with personal touches and warm moments,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3241822/different-mood-xi-breaks-ice-biden-san-francisco-six-years-after-mar-lago-and-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3241822/different-mood-xi-breaks-ice-biden-san-francisco-six-years-after-mar-lago-and-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Nov 2023 13:57:04 +0000 China is poorer for the loss of Li Keqiang, the former premier or No 2 to President Xi Jinping for 10 years, who has died after an apparent heart attack. The death at 68 of the man known as the “people’s premier” comes as a shock. It coincides with a critical juncture in the affairs of a nation that relied on his economic knowledge and calm counsel. Economic growth is at a crossroads. The ministers of defence and foreign affairs have been sacked without explanation just as the all important... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3239499/continuing-down-reformist-path-best-way-remember-li-keqiang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3239499/continuing-down-reformist-path-best-way-remember-li-keqiang?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:06:42 +0000 Since its inception in 1921, China’s Communist Party has lurched between ultra-left radicalism and pragmatism, bringing about alternating tragedies and triumphs. In the first 30 years of the People’s Republic, Mao Zedong’s erroneous emphasis on ideology and class struggle, fanned by ultra-leftist nationalism, produced catastrophic consequences. In the late 1970s, Deng Xiaoping ended the disastrous Cultural Revolution and adopted an open-door policy, which put China on the track of reform and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3212110/xis-chinese-dream-danger-being-hijacked-ultra-left-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3212110/xis-chinese-dream-danger-being-hijacked-ultra-left-nationalism?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Mar 2023 17:00:13 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a glowing tribute to late leader Jiang Zemin on behalf of the Communist Party on Tuesday, praising him for defending the country’s dignity in the face of Western sanctions. In an hour-long speech at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi recounted Jiang’s political career and credited him with leading China’s economic reform and opening up, including steering China’s accession to the World Trade Organization. He also praised the late leader for standing up to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3202309/jiang-zemin-funeral-xi-jinping-hails-late-leader-steering-china-through-tough-times-and-defying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3202309/jiang-zemin-funeral-xi-jinping-hails-late-leader-steering-china-through-tough-times-and-defying?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:15:19 +0000 Former Chinese president Hu Jintao was among the few prominent figures absent from Tuesday’s state funeral for his predecessor Jiang Zemin. The previous day he had joined Xi Jinping and dozens of other top officials in bidding farewell to Jiang. An official source said Hu and some other party elders did not attend Tuesday’s funeral because “they could not stand up for that long, given their age”. At Monday’s closed-door ceremony, held at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3202287/why-former-chinese-leader-hu-jintao-was-highest-profile-absentee-jiang-zemins-funeral?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3202287/why-former-chinese-leader-hu-jintao-was-highest-profile-absentee-jiang-zemins-funeral?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Dec 2022 11:26:47 +0000 As part of SCMP’s commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of former Chinese president Jiang Zemin’s death and legacy, this story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. President Xi Jinping led dozens of top officials in receiving the body of former President Jiang Zemin on Thursday, after the casket was flown from Shanghai to Beijing. State broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan standing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3201669/china-online-nostalgia-late-president-jiang-zemins-leadership-stands-out-contrast-protests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3201669/china-online-nostalgia-late-president-jiang-zemins-leadership-stands-out-contrast-protests?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:19:25 +0000 The recently concluded 20th Party Congress was exceptional because it shattered many long-standing conventions. These unwritten rules and customs were established over time after the Cultural Revolution to reduce party infighting, build consensus and avoid excessive concentration of power. At the end of the Cultural Revolution, party elders like Deng Xiaoping and Chen Yun found themselves inheriting a party and country torn by bitter political strife and chaos resulting from the excesses of Mao... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3197442/communist-partys-moment-crisis-turned-xi-jinping-weakest-its-most-powerful-leader-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3197442/communist-partys-moment-crisis-turned-xi-jinping-weakest-its-most-powerful-leader-history?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Oct 2022 02:00:20 +0000 China’s top envoy in South Korea on Wednesday accused the United States of being the “biggest external challenge” to Seoul-Beijing relations, and dismissed allegations that his country was turning a blind eye to Pyongyang’s nuclear development. Ambassador Xing Haiming also lambasted Washington for its “self-righteousness” and “America-first” attitude, which he said stemmed from the country’s belief they are a “God-chosen people”. “The biggest external challenge is the United States. The most... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3197345/china-envoy-blasts-us-dividing-seoul-and-beijing-defends-hu-jintao-exit-communist-party-congress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3197345/china-envoy-blasts-us-dividing-seoul-and-beijing-defends-hu-jintao-exit-communist-party-congress?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:39:09 +0000 On the last day of the Communist Party’s week-long national congress, the spotlight was momentarily focused on the unexpected departure of former Chinese president Hu Jintao from the stage at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. While the exact reason for Hu’s premature exit remains unclear, footage of his confused departure was widely discussed online. A reporter for state news agency Xinhua wrote on Twitter late on Saturday that Hu’s early departure was related to his health. “Hu Jintao... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3196899/former-chinese-president-hu-jintaos-congress-exit-break-communist-party-script?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3196899/former-chinese-president-hu-jintaos-congress-exit-break-communist-party-script?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Oct 2022 12:10:44 +0000 China’s Communist Party this week finally revealed the date of its long-anticipated 20th congress, where Xi Jinping is widely expected to secure a norm-busting third term and cement his status as the country’s most powerful leader in decades. Tuesday’s announcement marked the official start of the countdown to the twice-a-decade conclave from October 16, at which Xi expects to promote more allies to senior leadership positions and deliver a policy address outlining China’s priorities for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3191099/chinas-20th-party-congress-secrecy-shrouds-leadership-selection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3191099/chinas-20th-party-congress-secrecy-shrouds-leadership-selection?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Sep 2022 01:00:22 +0000 China has had five major leaders since the founding of the People’s Republic, each of them distinctive and each with their own path to power. In his new book China’s Leaders: From Mao to Now , American political science professor and leading China scholar David Shambaugh not only charts the rise of each man but does it in a way that is accessible to the general reader. Here, Shambaugh talks about how he sees Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping – from their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3151769/mao-now-david-shambaugh-compares-and-contrasts-chinas-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3151769/mao-now-david-shambaugh-compares-and-contrasts-chinas-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Oct 2021 01:30:15 +0000 It was a celebration on a grand scale as the Communist Party marked its centenary in the heart of Beijing on Thursday, seeking to reinforce political messages and calling on young Chinese to take part in its vision for the future. Security was tight as an audience of more than 70,000 filled Tiananmen Square – chosen from party organs, government bodies and research and scientific institutes, as well as dozens of people representing ethnic minorities who were flown in from across the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3139499/chinas-communist-party-sticks-script-day-young-and-old?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3139499/chinas-communist-party-sticks-script-day-young-and-old?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:45:00 +0000 The Communist Party sought to present itself as a beacon for the future at mass centenary celebration at Beijing’s National Stadium on Monday night. President Xi Jinping, the party’s general secretary, was front and centre at the three-hour event at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium, which was the backdrop for the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games 13 years ago. Also among the more than 20,000 people watching on were all seven members of the party’s inner circle, the Politburo Standing Committee;... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3139221/chinas-communist-party-goes-back-future-centenary-curtain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3139221/chinas-communist-party-goes-back-future-centenary-curtain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:00:12 +0000 Chinese President Xi Jinping will join global leaders next week at a virtual meeting organised by the World Economic Forum that will focus on the economic, environmental, social and technological challenges facing the world amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Switzerland-based institution said on Monday. The event comes as the global economy continues to be haunted by the pandemic and the relationship between China and the United States requires urgent repair. “The need to reset priorities and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3118329/xi-jinping-discuss-coronavirus-era-challenges-merkel-suga-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3118329/xi-jinping-discuss-coronavirus-era-challenges-merkel-suga-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:30:08 +0000 A top aide to President Xi Jinping says the Chinese Communist Party’s centralised command of the nation’s economic and social development must be improved in an era of turbulence and uncertainty. Ding Xuexiang, director of the General Office of the Central Committee, wrote in an article published in People’s Daily last week that China is in need of a strong leadership core to deal with an increasingly unstable world. “The more severe and complex the situation is, the more conflicts, risks and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3112442/chinas-grass-roots-party-members-must-fall-line-maintain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3112442/chinas-grass-roots-party-members-must-fall-line-maintain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Dec 2020 04:00:15 +0000 Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa has warned that the city has become one of the biggest sticking points, along with Xinjiang and Taiwan, preventing better relations between China and the US and other Western powers. Blaming a campaign against Beijing based on misconceptions and misunderstanding, Tung said Hong Kong had been an indisputable part of the country since the end of British rule in 1997, and Western powers had no authority over the city. Tung, now a vice-chairman of China’s top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3112167/ex-leader-tung-chee-hwa-warns-hong-kong-has-become-one-main?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3112167/ex-leader-tung-chee-hwa-warns-hong-kong-has-become-one-main?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Dec 2020 16:21:24 +0000 A former senior editor of a Chinese Communist Party journal who moved to the US after being investigated for criticising the government said bank accounts holding his family’s life savings had been frozen in China. Deng Yuwen, 52, a former deputy editor of the Study Times, the Central Party School’s official newspaper, said the accounts, holding 300,000 yuan (US$45,000), were frozen on September 2 in what he called a “warning to dissidents in the United States”. Deng lost his job at the Study... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3110397/beijing-blocked-my-bank-accounts-chinese-dissident-us-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/3110397/beijing-blocked-my-bank-accounts-chinese-dissident-us-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Nov 2020 21:00:14 +0000 China’s “dual circulation” strategy to steer it through a changing world is a new cloak over an old idea aimed at rebalancing the nation’s economy away from exports towards consumption, according to Michael Pettis, a professor of finance at Peking University and a veteran China observer. The plan unveiled by President Xi Jinping in a strategic repositioning of the nation amid rising tensions with the United States, thrusting “internal circulation” to the forefront of China’s economy and shifting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3099314/chinas-new-strategy-economic-self-reliance-just-rehashing-old?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3099314/chinas-new-strategy-economic-self-reliance-just-rehashing-old?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:00:15 +0000 The Covid-19 pandemic is taking a heavy toll, with more than 9,000 people dead, including over 3,200 in China alone. But has China learned its lessons from the tragedy, to put its people’s lives before anything else and regain the world’s trust? Given what happened to the whistle-blower-turned-national-hero Dr Li Wenliang, my answer is no. Li – one of eight doctors who attempted to alert the public about the coronavirus outbreak, only to be reprimanded by local police – died on February 7. Li’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3075810/has-china-learned-its-lesson-coronavirus-tragedy-judging-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3075810/has-china-learned-its-lesson-coronavirus-tragedy-judging-its?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:35:07 +0000 China’s military has tightened confidentiality rules for overseas cooperation and arms fairs as the People’s Liberation Army steps up exchanges with its foreign counterparts. President Xi Jinping has signed a decree to improve confidentiality, including for important military events, overseas publicity, exchanges with other militaries, and for arms fairs abroad, the official PLA Daily reported on Wednesday. Xi also chairs the powerful Central Military Commission. The increased confidentiality... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3051449/chinas-military-tightens-secrecy-rules-pla-steps-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3051449/chinas-military-tightens-secrecy-rules-pla-steps-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:30:18 +0000 Anniversaries should be occasions to celebrate accomplishments, reflect on the past, take stock of the present and look to the future. The People’s Republic of China’s 70th anniversary is such an occasion. Certainly, there will be grand pageantry orchestrated with military precision in Tiananmen Square. A decade ago, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary, I sat in the reviewing stands beneath the Gate of Heavenly Peace and watched the weaponry and floats, soldiers and citizens, pass down the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3030844/china-70-must-take-its-greatest-challenge-yet-political-reform-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3030844/china-70-must-take-its-greatest-challenge-yet-political-reform-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 19:00:11 +0000 China has stepped up intensive rehearsals for the upcoming National Day parade, which military insiders say is designed to showcase the achievements of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s modernisation drive. The parade on October 1 will mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic and will focus on weapons developed since Xi came to power in late 2012, despite long-standing problems in aircraft engine development. Video clips circulating on mainland social media in recent days... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3026743/chinese-fighter-jets-seen-skies-over-beijing-preparations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3026743/chinese-fighter-jets-seen-skies-over-beijing-preparations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:00:08 +0000 Proponents of the so-called China model heap praise on the central government. They assert that China’s remarkable economic rise is because of the Communist Party’s system of meritocracy, adaptability and legitimacy with the people. Whatever the merits of such arguments, it is obvious that such features are the opposite of what Beijing’s appointees in Hong Kong have managed to achieve, in the aftermath of their disastrously misguided extradition bill efforts. Meritocracy has failed — no... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3025171/has-china-forgotten-how-order-was-restored-hong-kong-after-2003?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/opinion/article/3025171/has-china-forgotten-how-order-was-restored-hong-kong-after-2003?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Sep 2019 01:00:14 +0000 Lou Jiwei may not be a household name in the West, but the former Chinese finance minister is well known and highly respected among financiers and economic policymakers. Yet, earlier this month, China’s government announced that Lou was being replaced as chairman of the country’s national social security fund. The move reflects a change in the Chinese leadership’s approach to governance that is likely to have profound implications for the country’s future.  The removal of Lou from his post... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/insight-opinion/article/3006516/xi-jinpings-intolerance-dissent-within-government-heightens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/insight-opinion/article/3006516/xi-jinpings-intolerance-dissent-within-government-heightens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2019 17:00:07 +0000 The only son of former president Hu Jintao is tipped to become the new Communist Party chief of Xian, China’s ancient capital and the biggest city in the country’s northwest, according to three sources. The promotion will elevate Hu Haifeng, 46, to vice-ministerial rank and set him up for future career advancement. Hu is now the party boss of Lishui, a much smaller city in the coastal province Zhejiang. Xian is the capital of Shaanxi province and Hu will also become a member of the provincial... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/2189396/son-former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-parachuted-top-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/2189396/son-former-chinese-president-hu-jintao-parachuted-top-job?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:05:03 +0000 Will Donald Trump’s presidential legacy reflect the success or failure of American democracy? Pessimists can argue that the election of such a polarising figure who routinely ignores established norms and espouses the nation’s worst racist, sexist, and xenophobic impulses is indicative of the death of American democracy. Optimists can argue instead that Trump’s degradation of democratic norms will lead Americans to appreciate and hold on to them more dearly in his wake. It is unclear even now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/2185438/china-has-no-use-democracy-it-needs-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/2185438/china-has-no-use-democracy-it-needs-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Feb 2019 18:00:45 +0000 The White House has reviewed an incident last week in which a news photographer for The Epoch Times, a publication banned in China for its critical coverage, stepped into a restricted area and handed US President Donald Trump a folder during an official event. The photographer, identified by other photojournalists as Samira Bouaou, passed the purple-coloured folder to Trump as he was walking out of the East Room on September 12 after delivering remarks at a reception for the Congressional Medal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/2164780/white-house-reviews-handing-folder-donald-trump-photographer-pro?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/politics/article/2164780/white-house-reviews-handing-folder-donald-trump-photographer-pro?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Sep 2018 21:00:15 +0000 Whatever power struggles may or may not be going on behind the scenes of China’s party congress, none of the delegates appeared to have lost their respect for their elders, at least not in front of the television cameras. As President Xi Jinping appeared from behind the curtain that had been shielding the conclave’s decision-making presidium at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, it was clear he was opting for a gentle walking pace so as not to pull too far ahead of the two men... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/policies-politics/article/2115948/elder-statesmen-make-rare-public-appearance-chinas-top?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/policies-politics/article/2115948/elder-statesmen-make-rare-public-appearance-chinas-top?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:15:30 +0000 The son of the former Chinese president Hu Jintao has formally been named the mayor of a city in eastern China. Hu Haifeng has been confirmed in the post in Jiaxing in Zhejiang province. He had been acting mayor since March last year and was elected to the role by the local people’s congress on Tuesday, the Jiaxing Daily reported. The move comes after Deng Xiaoping’s grandson, Deng Zhuodi, quit his post as a county Communist Party deputy secretary in the Guangxi region in July last year. Late... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/policies-politics/article/2090797/ex-president-hu-jintaos-son-formally-named-mayor-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/policies-politics/article/2090797/ex-president-hu-jintaos-son-formally-named-mayor-city?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Apr 2017 06:31:12 +0000 Beijing is likely to hold a large-scale military parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the PLA, just a few months ahead of a party leadership reshuffle scheduled to take place late this year, military sources say. A PLA general from the ground force said President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, was expected to inspect troops on PLA Day on August 1. The last such large military parade was one commemorating the 70th anniversary of the end... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2079193/massive-parade-tipped-plas-90th-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2079193/massive-parade-tipped-plas-90th-birthday?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Mar 2017 15:45:30 +0000