Introduction

Few Chinese leaders have shaped their era as profoundly as Xi Jinping. Since taking power in 2012, he has transformed China’s system of governance, recentralized authority around the Communist Party, accelerated military modernization, and committed the country to a long-term strategic competition with the United States.

Under his leadership, Beijing no longer presents itself merely as an emerging power seeking integration into the international order, but increasingly as a state determined to help reshape that order. From industrial policy and global infrastructure to diplomacy and critical technologies, Xi Jinping’s vision is gradually influencing the balance of power in the twenty-first century.

Understanding Xi Jinping therefore requires more than examining the career of a head of state. It means analyzing the trajectory of a China that seeks to become a leading global power while advancing a political, economic, and strategic model distinct from that of Western democracies.

The Heir to a China in Transition

When Xi Jinping became General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, China had already emerged as the world’s second-largest economy. Three decades of reforms initiated under Deng Xiaoping had delivered exceptional growth, rapid industrialization, and deep integration into global trade.

This success, however, came with significant imbalances: corruption, inequality, dependence on exports, demographic pressures, environmental degradation, and rising geopolitical tensions.

Xi therefore inherited an economic power whose next challenge was no longer simply to grow, but to consolidate its position in an increasingly competitive international environment.

The Recentralization of Power

One of the defining features of the Xi Jinping era has been the gradual concentration of political authority. Rather than weakening the Communist Party system, Xi has sought to reinforce its role. Major economic, technological, military, and diplomatic decisions are increasingly coordinated through central Party institutions, whose authority now extends across virtually every strategic sector.

This recentralization has been accompanied by a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Hundreds of thousands of officials have faced disciplinary action, strengthening internal control while also consolidating the authority of the central leadership.

The removal of presidential term limits in 2018 marked a significant departure from the succession model established after Mao Zedong. It opened the way for prolonged rule and reflected the priority given to strategic continuity.

An Economy Driven by Sovereignty

Under Xi Jinping, growth is no longer the sole measure of success. Resilience has become a central priority. This shift is reflected in several strategic areas:

  • industrial upgrading;
  • semiconductor development;
  • artificial intelligence;
  • robotics;
  • aerospace;
  • space technologies;
  • quantum computing;
  • energy security;
  • food security.

The “Made in China 2025” strategy, followed by broader policies supporting critical technologies, illustrates Beijing’s determination to reduce external dependencies.

Trade and technology tensions with the United States have reinforced this direction, pushing China to accelerate the domestic development of strategic supply chains.

The Return of Industrial Power

China remains the factory of the world, but it increasingly seeks to become one of its main centers of innovation. Public investment in research, digital infrastructure, batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable energy reflects a long-term industrial strategy.

This model combines state planning, large-scale capital deployment, and the development of national companies capable of competing with global leaders.

An Assertive Global Ambition

Under Xi Jinping, Chinese foreign policy has expanded in scope and ambition. The Belt and Road Initiative is one of the clearest expressions of this strategy.

Ports, railways, power plants, digital infrastructure, and logistics corridors have been developed across dozens of countries to strengthen economic links with China. This approach serves several objectives:

  • securing access to resources;
  • opening new markets;
  • expanding diplomatic influence;
  • supporting the international expansion of Chinese companies.

At the same time, Beijing has increased its engagement in international institutions and promoted new frameworks for cooperation with emerging economies, particularly through the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Taiwan: The Central Strategic Challenge

Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue of Xi Jinping’s leadership. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China and regards reunification as a historical objective.

China officially states that it prefers peaceful reunification, but it has refused to rule out the use of force in the event of a formal declaration of independence or decisive foreign intervention.

This makes the Taiwan Strait one of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints, where Chinese, American, and regional strategic interests converge.

A Structural Rivalry with the United States

The relationship between China and the United States now extends far beyond trade. Their competition concerns:

  • control over critical technologies;
  • supply chains;
  • digital infrastructure;
  • strategic minerals;
  • artificial intelligence;
  • international standards;
  • military capabilities;
  • diplomatic influence.

This rivalry increasingly shapes contemporary international relations and influences the strategic choices of states across the world.

Between Effectiveness and Criticism

Xi Jinping’s model of governance remains the subject of sharply contrasting assessments. Supporters emphasize:

  • institutional stability;
  • the reduction of corruption;
  • technological advancement;
  • infrastructure development;
  • the capacity for long-term planning.

Critics point to:

  • tighter political control;
  • restrictions on certain civil liberties;
  • digital surveillance;
  • concerns over human rights;
  • the risks associated with the lasting concentration of power.

These competing interpretations reflect not only differences between political systems, but also broader disagreements over the role of the state in economic and social development.

Conclusion

Xi Jinping represents a new phase in Chinese history. His ambitions go beyond sustaining economic growth: they aim to transform China into a comprehensive power capable of exercising lasting influence over the global balance of power.

Whether in industrial policy, technology, defense, trade, or diplomacy, the decisions taken under his leadership are likely to shape international affairs for decades.

More than a national leader, Xi Jinping has become one of the principal architects of the transformation of the international order. Understanding his strategy is therefore essential to understanding the forces that will define global power in the twenty-first century.

Main Sources

  • State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, white papers and official documents.
  • National Congresses of the Chinese Communist Party and official political reports.
  • World Bank.
  • International Monetary Fund.
  • World Trade Organization.
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  • International Energy Agency.
  • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies.
  • Lowy Institute.
  • Rhodium Group.