Image: During the March 2024 Two Sessions, Xi Jinping was photographed by foreign media in the Great Hall of the People with an expression of extreme pain while drinking tea. (Illustration by Qing Yu/People News)
[People News] With just 12 days left until the much-anticipated Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, speculation is rife overseas about whether Xi Jinping will voluntarily resign or leverage Central Committee members to push back against and overturn the power transition plan proposed by the Party's elders in a bid to retain his authority. The veracity of these rumours introduces several uncertainties ahead of the plenary session.
On October 8, the People's Liberation Army Daily and the military network featured an article titled "Reporters Visit Memorial Sites and Military Camps, Understanding the Fine Tradition of Criticism and Self-Criticism—Ensuring that the 'Sharp Weapons' Never Rust". This article is the latest instalment in the military's series titled "Military Reporters Seeking Roots". Several pieces in this series have suggested that current Communist Party leaders should draw lessons from the glorified early leaders of the Party, and this latest article follows suit.
The 'sharp weapons' referred to in the article's title are 'criticism and self-criticism'. The article references Mao Zedong's speech at the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party, asserting that criticism and self-criticism are "the only effective means to resist various political dust and political microorganisms that erode the thoughts of our comrades and the integrity of our Party." During the earlier Yan'an Rectification Movement, Mao had already established criticism and self-criticism as one of the three core styles of the Communist Party.
In the history of the Communist Party of China, the Seventh National Congress is significant for establishing Mao Zedong Thought as the guiding ideology and affirming Mao's central role. The notion of 'criticism and self-criticism' was just a part of Mao's speech at that time, and the military newspaper's article took it out and elaborated on it, which clearly serves a purpose. Is this a prelude to the Fourth Plenary Session?
After quoting Mao's statements, the article references Xi Jinping's interpretation of the concept. Xi remarked that 'criticism and self-criticism' is a 'sharp weapon for strengthening the Party and addressing issues, as well as an essential means to enhance and regulate political life within the Party.' By making this statement, Xi endorses 'criticism and self-criticism.' If such a situation arises at the Fourth Plenary Session, Xi will have no grounds to respond.
Following the quotations from Mao and Xi, the article provides specific examples of criticism and self-criticism during the Yan'an Rectification Movement under various subheadings. Under the subheading 'Dare to 'cut oneself open,' dare to 'fire at others'—being accountable to the cause and comrades, criticism must be earnest and rigorous. Examples include Yang Zhiling, one of the founders of the so-called anti-Japanese guerrilla base in Daqingshan, early Communist leaders Li Lisan, and Director Li from a certain army unit. The article emphasises, 'What does it mean to have the courage to set aside pride and expose flaws? What is the attitude of digging deep into the roots and touching the soul?' This can only be realised through 'engaging in criticism and self-criticism.'
Under the subtitle "How to Handle Criticism, Testing Tolerance and Reflecting Style - Criticism is Difficult, but Leadership Taking the Lead Makes it Easy," the article lists examples of high-ranking officials from the Communist Party of China (CPC), including Wang Ruofei, Wang Zhen, Li Weihan, and Chen Yi. It highlights a concern from the Yan'an Rectification Movement, which stated that "the central leadership comrades are all seasoned revolutionaries and definitely not the targets of criticism; only inexperienced young people are the main subjects of criticism." This has led to significant apprehension about criticising CPC leaders, as there are fears that strong criticism could undermine their authority.
To address these concerns, the article quotes Liu Shaoqi, who emphasised the need for an atmosphere of free criticism within the party, particularly stating that central leaders should always be open to supervision and criticism from both cadres and the masses. The article then references Xi Jinping's remarks: "The weapon of criticism and self-criticism should be boldly applied not only to subordinates but also to peers, especially superiors. It cannot be the case that the higher the position, the less one can speak out. The weapon of criticism and self-criticism should be used frequently, adequately, and effectively, making it a habit, a consciousness, and a responsibility."
The military newspaper's assertions are certainly not without basis. There is a consensus that the high-ranking officials currently facing widespread dissatisfaction within the CPC and Chinese society are led by Xi Jinping, whose internal and external policies have been fundamentally flawed during his over a decade in power. Consequently, the CPC has become the primary adversary of the United States, raising global democratic nations' awareness of CPC infiltration, while various issues within Chinese society continue to mount, leading to moral decline, economic recession, and rising public discontent.
Despite this, Xi Jinping remains determined to amend the constitution in pursuit of a third term, even following a path of 'one supreme leader.' Consequently, any criticism from others has disappeared, making the idea of Xi engaging in self-criticism seem far-fetched. After Xi unexpectedly fell ill during the Third Plenary Session last July, various signs over the past year have suggested that his military and party powers are gradually waning. The upcoming Fourth Plenary Session is expected to reveal the mysteries surrounding the power shifts within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership. At this juncture, the military newspaper has pointedly stated that CCP leaders (does this include Xi?) must also accept criticism and self-criticism, referencing comments from high-ranking officials during the Mao era as well as remarks from Xi himself. Is this a signal to the officials attending the Fourth Plenary Session that Xi should also be open to criticism?
The concluding section of the article emphasises the significance of criticism and self-criticism, asserting that 'the more criticism, the more unity; the more unity, the greater the fighting power.' From the author's perspective, this is merely lofty rhetoric. Within the authoritarian framework of the CCP, which high-ranking official, including Xi, would willingly accept criticism and the loss of power? Would they do so without any grievances? The military newspaper's assertion highlights the current lack of unity among the CCP leadership, and the possibility of a coup during the Fourth Plenary Session cannot be dismissed.
This front-page article on 'criticism and self-criticism' in the military newspaper, along with the series of articles titled 'Our Strength Lies in Speaking the Truth' published on October 4, likely carries significant implications ahead of the Fourth Plenary Session. So, will the Fourth Plenary Session 'speak the truth and report the facts'? Will there be any 'criticism' aimed at Xi?
(First published by People News) △
News magazine bootstrap themes!
I like this themes, fast loading and look profesional
Thank you Carlos!
You're welcome!
Please support me with give positive rating!
Yes Sure!