"New Democratic Revolution"? "Remaining true to original aspirations"? These phrases made by the Chinese Communist Party often carry a different meaning than they suggest. China experts strive to decipher China's web of phrases; after all, they shed light on future policy. Xi Jinping has become particularly adept at twisting words – and many Western politicians fall for it without even realizing it.
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The visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Tianjin was supposed to prevent any misunderstandings with China. But instead, the People's Republic is using the meeting for a verbal frontal attack. But Beijing is pursuing a larger goal.
By Michael Radunski
It's a bit reminiscent of the rejection of the manuscript for Harry Potter by numerous publishers: When Xi Jinping wanted to join the Chinese Communist Party in the early 1970s, officials rejected his application for political reasons. Later, he had to cheat his way into university because he was not to be given a spot initially. An autobiography by the future head of state allows for fascinating insights into this time – and partly explains his way of thinking.
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When Henry Kissinger and his Chinese interlocutors found themselves in a diplomatic dead-end in the early 1970s, they visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing – and immediately got back on track. And to this day, the once sacred place full of symbolism inspires astute analysis. Meanwhile, Kissinger, the mastermind of modern US policy towards China, despairs over the aggressive course the two superpowers have taken.
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Xi Jinping did not simply wear a Mao-style jacket at his party anniversary appearance, but one with the exact same cut and hue as the original. Our columnist personally knows the tailor who makes these updated versions of the politically charged garment. The master tailor talked about the special requests that head of state Hu Jintao once made for his Gala Mao jacket.
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Today, on its 100th anniversary, the Communist leadership faces a major dilemma. It wants to consolidate its power and the order of the country. At the same time, it needs to allow more and more free-market economy since economic prosperity legitimizes its power. But this requires opening up to the world. The fact that this dilemma cannot be solved by ideological concepts, but in the end only by trial and error, was demonstrated by the reformer Deng Xiaoping. But it won't be any easier for the party to reconcile the two.
By Frank Sieren