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?
By Marcel Grzanna
The 6th plenum of the current Central Committee will convene in Beijing next week. Under normal circumstances of the post-reform era, this would herald the end of Xi Jinping's term in office. But the latter dares to break with Deng Xiaoping and wants to anchor himself even more firmly as the "core of the CP". He also wants to lift himself even further up the all-time list of the historic party hierarchy: above Deng, next to Mao.
By Michael Radunski
Education Minister Anja Karliczek calls on German universities to "re-evaluate the role of Confucius Institutes in the German higher education landscape". Only recently, two Confucius Institutes had canceled the presentation of a book about Xi Jinping. The fundamental question of the independence and role of the Confucius Institutes thus takes on new topicality.
By Ning Wang