Update | There is no ‘House of Cards’: China’s president rejects for first time claims anti-graft crackdown is power struggle
Hours after landing in Seattle on his first state visit in the US, Xi made a surprising reference to the popular American political drama series House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey as ruthless and power-hungry US President Francis Underwood.
Chinese President Xi Jinping surprised observers today by publicly dismissing for the first time festering allegations that his sweeping anti-corruption crackdown is driven by a power struggle, during his landmark speech in Seattle.
Speaking at the Washington State Welcoming Banquet on the first day of his week-long visit to the US, a confident and assertive Xi spoke about a spate of issues concerning his American audience, from cyber security, China-US relations, to the economy, addressing former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and other high-profile guests at a formal banquet.
But it was comments on his high-profile anti-corruption drive which raised the most eyebrows, as Xi sought to stamp down speculation and allegations from China-watchers that his crackdown is motivated by an internal power struggle that allows him to get rid of political opponents and consolidate power.
In a surprising reference to the popular American political drama series House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey as ruthless and power-hungry US President Francis Underwood, Xi said “We have punished tigers and flies. It has nothing to do with power struggles. In this case there is no 'House of Cards'.