Worries of a Soviet-style collapse keep Xi Jinping up at night
China’s Communists have now been in power longer than the Soviets
IN LATE SEPTEMBER workers erected a new structure in Tiananmen Square. It is 18 metres tall, resembling a basket of fruit and flowers. Similar floral-themed displays have sprung up across Beijing in celebration of the 75th anniversary on October 1st of the founding of Communist China. This one bulges with giant peaches and gourds—symbols of long life. But China’s leader, Xi Jinping, worries about how long-lived his party’s rule will be.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “A fear of falling”
From the October 5th 2024 edition
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