China's President Xi Jinping gains popularity due to actions taken by U.S. President Trump, causing earlier critics to align with him instead.
In the heat of the trade war with the U.S., even China's critics are jumping on the Xi Jinping bandwagon, according to a report by Bloomberg. The tariffs imposed by Trump on China are causing quite the stir, potentially becoming an existential threat to China's economy. But some question whether these troubles were brewing before the tariffs storm hit.
With citizens rallying around their leader out of perceived national solidarity and an eagerness to defend sovereignty, Xi Jinping seems to have found himself a golden opportunity. As the trade war rages on, Xi has positioned himself as a formidable leader, standing tall against what many perceive as U.S. aggression.
But let's not forget, Xi Jinping has faced his fair share of criticism within China. His strict lockdown policies during the pandemic and a stagnant economy have left many unhappy. Protests in authoritarian China are even a thing, but in this volatile trade climate, even the harshest critics seem to be softening their stance, as reported by Bloomberg.
Emboldened by the U.S. president's radical policy swings, even some who have felt the brunt of Xi's leadership in the past now find themselves backing the Chinese leader. These citizens believe that Trump's actions require a strong response.
Trump himself seems to believe he can force China into a deal by leveraging his power position. But according to Bloomberg, the Chinese government is unsure of what Trump truly wants, fearing a loss of power within the Communist Party. This wave of patriotism under Xi Jinping might just be China's winning ticket to survival.
"Most of the economic difficulties that the Chinese government would otherwise have to justify or explain can now perhaps be blamed on the introduction of tariffs," said Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair for US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School to Bloomberg. In reality, these problems existed before the tariffs.
Xi is in a comfortable position regarding Trump's sagging approval ratings. The pressure on the U.S. president is growing, with him already rescinding some tariffs and granting China exceptions. It seems that Xi Jinping can use Trump as a convenient scapegoat for internal political problems.
Here's the deal: while Xi Jinping's leadership is contentious, the context of the trade war with the U.S. and China's internal dynamics can lead many to support him, at least publicly, as a defender of national interests and sovereignty. Still, behind the scenes, the landscape might look a bit more complicated.
- Despite Xi Jinping's previous criticism from within China due to stagnant economy and strict lockdown policies, even his harshest critics seem to be softening their stance, as reported by Bloomberg, given the volatile trade climate and U.S. aggression.
- Emboldened by Trump's radical policy swings, some who have previously felt the brunt of Xi's leadership now find themselves backing the Chinese leader, believing that Trump's actions require a strong response.
- Xi Jinping can use Trump as a convenient scapgoat for internal political problems, considering Trump's sagging approval ratings and the pressure he is facing, with him already rescinding some tariffs and granting China exceptions.
- In the heat of the trade war with the U.S., Xi Jinping's leadership is contentious yet supported, as citizens rally around their leader out of national solidarity and politically, as a defender of national interests and sovereignty, masking the more complicated landscape behind the scenes.
