Reactions to power expansion: 'Xi forces us into systems competition'

Where the People's Republic's journey in world history will lead is not decided in Beijing alone – geopolitical developments, economic competition, and disruptive fires such as pandemics weave the coordinate network of the future global balance of power. But who is at the helm in Beijing when it comes to the direction of policy in the years ahead is no longer in doubt since the 6th Plenum. How is Xi's expansion of power viewed in the West?

Last updated: 24. July 2025