In China, the President and Vice President are limited to two five-year terms. However, an article by Al Jazeera noted the Communist Party of China desires to change this term limit, allowing future leaders to serve more than two consecutive terms.
Current President Xi Jinping would benefit the most from the new amendment to the constitution, as it would allow for his eligibility for reelection in 2023. Due to the amount of Xi Jinping supporters in the Legislative Branch of China, the article asserts this new amendment will most likely be added in the near future.
Many speculated an event such as this would occur as back in October, when Xi Jinping discussed his 30-year plan for his country, as he did not note a successor to take his place. However, the fear many citizens and critics have of Xi Jinping has escalated due to the probability of less democratic rule in the future. In other words, China will continue its surveillance state as well as continue to discipline Hong Kong for its democratic ideas.
As discussed in class, China is sowing the seeds of its own demise by allowing its citizens to travel to American schools and be indoctrinated with democratic ideas. This maneuver by the president to maintain power is China’s attempt to gain control back from liberal theories. Al Jazeera noted many citizens protested in January due to China’s continual push to restrict its population and exert its dominance. However, it’s interesting to note there are no mentions of protests as a result of this news.
When Honduras held their presidential election of late last year, one candidate was chastised due to running for office despite a controversial lift of the term limit. When the population rioted and protested his election, the candidate called for a curfew with police backing; ultimately, suppressing the crowd. Xi Jinping, undoubtedly, lacks opposition due to his ability to rid them from any political offices in China; however, he too will most likely face a similar situation if he chooses to run again for office. It will be interesting to see how the public and Xi Jinping will react during this time.