Samriddhi Roy from Jamia Millia Islamia University writes: The Chinese Communist Party spawned in a dilapidated building in Shanghai in, 1921 will turn a century-old next month (July 2021). With age, comes an array of questions over the party’s future outlook and existing ideology. While many sinologists tackle the soaring questions with balanced postulations, others weigh it against sharp distinctions of- whether the CP will emerge as a world dominator or die fighting its internal incongruity.
The party of 90 million members reflects two very crucial centennial ambitions as highlighted by President Xi Jinping just after attaining his leadership in 2012; The First is to raise China to a ‘moderately grandiose status of urban society’ by snowballing its 2010 Per capital for $12,000 by the 100th year of its inception in 2021. The Second, intend is an anxiety-ridden deadline of the year 2049-50 where The People’s Republic of China is imagined to sprout into a fully developed, highly influential and financially robust nation. However, one cannot help but glare at the impending challenges which stand tall in the face of Chinese leadership. There are pullulating attacks on the current Chinese economic structure exposing the ongoing skirmish between the world’s largest economies- the USA and China. It also leaks Beijing’s vulnerable foreign policy which mostly relies on booming economic conditions through building deeper relationships with trading economic partners, which is at an all-time low due to ideological differences. As of now, there are no significant intimations from the Chinese end towards mending its relations with the West. Chinese Political Theorist, Yu Jei, explores how the vivacious chorus of COVID-19 diplomacy carried out by senior Chinese diplomats in 2020-21, has prompted an austere stillness in solving international challenges at Zhongnanhai (headquarter, CCP). She goes on to add, the implications of vast gender imbalances within the Chinese Political ranking and roles is one the main, if not many roadblocks abstaining its rise globally.
Undeniably the Communist Party of China is more diplomatically sharp, economically powerful and fosters a formidable political ideology drawing a stark comparison with the Communist Party of the former Soviet Union. Dissimilar to it, the CCP aims to develop deep strategic partnerships in the present World Order. Beijing’s foreign policy today is a complex amalgamation of past histories, grudges, grievances mixed with high-punching pragmatism. The blanket feeling of how China is due to its warranted respect in the international community, and it is only the CCP that can bring the country to global glory, is popular rhetoric amongst the masses. However, for China to grudge their past humiliation and unsteady economic growth can prove disastrous for its foreign engagements with other countries.
Furthermore, the hot and cold game of diplomacy with the West is not doing any favours to the Chinese foreign policy- to create a balanced and expedite alliance to succour its domestic economic interests. This Chinese axiom was championed by Deng Xiaoping but has somehow lost its appeal. Beijing needs to resurrect the concept of prioritising foreign policy to reap economic gains. ‘Dual Circulation’, a strategy birth out by the CCP in a politically stiff environment of the pandemic era. The notion recommends strategies for local economic boom, however, the word ‘dual’ in the plan may suggest that Beijing understands how their economy can only boost, as long as their international partners thrive. Hence, China may garner resources stability and economic security by dismissing claims on their ‘Isolationist’ economic policies as well as strengthening their diplomatic ties with their neighbours.
Deadline- 2049
The Chinese leadership has already prescribed goals for their next centenary year one cannot look away from the clamorous Cultural Revolution it harbours due to social distress. Xi is touted to remain as powerful as their former Chairman Mao, however, no one openly sermonizes the decade-long anguish inflicted by the state on their citizens- as personal tragedies, silencing freedom and speech and expression, unwarranted prison, purge through any and every means possible. The greatest challenge for the CCP is to avoid depletion of economic growth amongst their million citizens and balance monetary risks under a debt-ballooning economy.
As of yet, the CCP resists any electoral displeasure, a fury over inequalities may loom large over CCP’s authority provided they fail to overcome their challenges. It is ironic to note even without formal opposition parties, Beijing continues to dissolve in its internal feud and insecurity.