Xi’s Chinese dream is in danger of being hijacked by ultra-left nationalism
- The ultra-leftist revival threatens Xi’s plans to revive the economy and turn China into a dominant world power by 2049
- It’s time to curb these ultra-nationalistic tendencies and return to pragmatic reform and development
Since its inception in 1921, China’s Communist Party has lurched between ultra-left radicalism and pragmatism, bringing about alternating tragedies and triumphs.
Deng’s successors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao have followed his doctrine by expanding the role of market forces while keeping a low profile for China on the international stage.
Jiang came up with his own phrase to summarise his style of governance, men sheng fa da cai (keeping quiet will help you make a fortune), while Hu’s is shorter – bu zhe teng (this has many meanings but usually, don’t flip-flop or don’t dither).
Their pragmatism has ensured China’s rise to become the world’s second-largest economy in merely 30 years.
Abroad, the party jettisoned Deng’s dictum of “hiding one’s strength and biding one’s time”, openly clashing with the United States and its Western allies across ideological lines and over values.
To make it worse, ultra-leftists have taken advantage of China’s confrontation with the US and the crackdown on the private sector to push their agenda under the guise of patriotism and allegiance to Communist ideals. Their influence has now largely moulded China’s domestic policies and stance on external relations.
Pelosi, Taiwan and the perils of Chinese nationalism
The opportunity has come for China’s top leaders to take serious steps to curb the ultra-nationalistic tendencies and get back on the track of reform and development.
The importance of this new cabinet should not be underestimated. The party might use the formation of the new government to signal a conciliatory approach at home and abroad, as it needs a more stable domestic and international environment to focus on reviving the economy.
At home, Li is expected to unveil pro-market measures in the coming months to boost the confidence of investors and consumers.
But signalling a conciliatory approach is not enough. China’s leaders face growing scepticism at home and abroad after their policy blunders and three years of zero-Covid, during which confidence in the rule of law was seriously compromised as officials locked people inside their homes or sent mildly infected people to quarantine centres for weeks in the name of pandemic control.
Underneath all those wanton acts and disregard for the rule of law are ultra-leftist tendencies running amok.
It is high time to revisit Deng’s warning and return to the practices of bu zheng lun and bu zhe teng.
Wang Xiangwei is a former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post. He now teaches journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University