Does Xi Jinping really want to be Chinese president for life?
Senior officials insist the term limit was scrapped for consistency, but critics believe Xi is in no rush to put power transition back on the agenda
It’s been a momentous month in Chinese politics, but the move to abolish the presidential term limit has overshadowed all else.
It took just two weeks – from the time it was announced to the near unanimous endorsement by the legislature – to make the most drastic revision to the state constitution since it was introduced in 1982, a change that sent shock waves through both Chinese society and the international community.
Now, the only clause that had prevented Xi Jinping from staying in power beyond 2023 has been removed from the constitution. Although Xi’s real power lies in his two other titles – Communist Party general secretary and Central Military Commission chairman – neither of which have term limits.
While media coverage is tightly controlled on the mainland, elsewhere many are asking whether it will mean Xi ruling indefinitely or becoming China’s president for life.
On the day of the announcement, state-run tabloid Global Times applauded the move but quoted “an authoritative person” as saying that the change did not equate to a lifelong tenure, without elaborating.
Similar articles followed in party mouthpiece People’s Daily, which stressed that the purpose of the amendment was to make the country’s three highest positions – head of the party, the military and the state – consistent.
