Schrodinger's Emperor May or May Not Have Clothes: Contrasting Strengths and Weaknesses in the Chinese Government's Response to COVID-19
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under Xi Jinping. This normally closed system of authoritarian government has been forced to confront an intense challenge with a degree of openness rarely seen, and over the course of three plus years of fighting the virus the results have been decidedly mixed. The strength of the Chinese response in 2020 highlights the robust state capacity that the CCP in general, and Xi Jinping in particular, still command in China. However, both the successes of 2020 and the increasingly public and prolonged protests of 2021 and 2022 demonstrate the power of the citizens of China and their ability to influence the policies of the central government. This challenge is only exacerbated by ongoing disconnects between central and local Chinese government officials. Xi Jinping has demonstrated a willingness to use international health aid to achieve diplomatic goals, as well as being willing to harness international COVID criticism to reinforce Chinese nationalism and bolster his domestic standing. These factors point to potential challenges and opportunities ahead for United States foreign policy goals, as Xi feels pressure from within and faces increased skepticism abroad.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1213279
Entities
People
- William W Gifford
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School