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OPINION JULY 09, 2021 | The Indian Eye 12

CCp at 100: Xi Jinping’s Future

Foreign policy Manifesto

As China becomes a leading power and competes for global supremacy against the US,

what does it mean for India?

JaGaNNaTh p. paNda
not plan to exist in a US-domi-
nated world order. Although Xi
n 1 July 2021, the Chi- stated that China has no “he-
nese Communist Party gemonic traits” while placing
O(CCP) celebrated the
100th anniversary of its foun- peace and harmony as values
dation. The CCP, which was to be promoted under his aim
established by 13 young per- to promote a “human commu-
sons united under a communist nity with a shared future”, this
was accompanied by threats of
agenda in the summer of 1921, a “collision” against any inter-
now comprises nearly 92 mil- fering external forces.
lion members (12.55 million of
which are below the age of 30).
In Chinese estimation, it has China’s designs to institute
grown to be one of the world’s itself as a global leader are
largest political parties and has
built China into a leading great not entirely surprising; Bei-
power, competing for global su- jing’s response to the pan-
premacy against the US.
Addressing a gathering of demic, particularly in its
over seventy thousand in a be- early stages and with the
hemoth spectacle of pomp and
grandeur, Chinese President vaccine diplomacy, were
and CCP General Secretary, Xi clear manoeuvres to this
Jinping, ushered in the highly
anticipated commemoration effect.
event with words rife with stra-
tegic posturing regarding Chi- In strategic circles, there has
na’s future. long been an ongoing debate on
Xi delivered the speech at China’s intent that is often diffi-
Tiananmen Square, subtly re- cult to discern, with an emerg-
claiming power over the historic ing consensus that it wants to
location whose namesake pro- cement its global hegemony or
tests of 1989 marked the biggest An exile Tibetan activist wearing a mask of Chinese President Xi Jinping domination. Xi’s words were an
civilian unrest CCP has dealt sits in a tub filled with red fluid like blood during a protest against the indication of China’s clear re-
with in modern-day China. 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, at jection of the status-quo inter-
Essentially, Beijing has, over Mcleodganj, in Dharamshala on Thursday. (ANI) national order and intentions
the course of the pandemic and to remake it based on socialism
leading up to the CCP centena- icy ambitions and directives of the old world, but also building with Chinese characteristics.
ry celebrations, become more Xi’s (and the CCP’s) China, and a new one”. This statement has Notably, this could imply
blatant in challenging the sta- what are the tactics that Beijing clearly highlighted Xi’s vision a further breakdown in com-
tus-quo world order, aiming to will resort to in achieving these of China’s future in the global munication, consultation and
“build a new type of internation- ambitions? order as a power intending to compromise between the US
al relations” and indicating that In terms of the CCP’s for- knock down and reshape a new and China—something India
the onset of a new era will, most eign strategy, Xi’s speech re- world. China’s revisionist an- must be mindful of. New Del-
likely, be shaped by Chinese ac- flected a strong posture rife tics have marked a clear threat hi remains committed to an in-
tions. In this context, Xi’s recent with nationalistic fervour. Xi to the United States’ (US) role clusive, rules-based, free, open
speech provides vital insight stressed that the Party has as the international status-quo and prosperous Indo-Pacific or-
into China’s strategic thinking. shown over time that China is power, with Xi making it ex- der, wherein engagement with
What are the future foreign pol- “capable of not only dismantling ceedingly clear that China does Continued on next page... >>

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