The Rise of Xi Jinping: How He Became China’s Most Powerful Leader Since Mao

In just over a decade, Xi Jinping has transformed himself from a relatively unknown party official into the most powerful leader China has seen since Mao Zedong. Today, Xi holds near-total control over the world’s second-largest economy, its military, and its political system.

But how did he rise so quickly — and how did he consolidate more power than any Chinese leader in recent history? Here’s the story of the rise of Xi Jinping.

Early Life and Family Legacy

Xi Jinping was born in 1953 in Beijing, the son of Xi Zhongxun, a revolutionary hero and senior official in the Communist Party of China (CPC).

• During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), Xi’s father was purged, and the family fell from favor.

• As a teenager, Xi was sent to the countryside to work in a rural village, where he lived in a cave home and did farm labor.

• This period shaped his political toughness and gave him credibility as someone who had endured hardship alongside ordinary Chinese citizens.

Despite his father’s political disgrace, Xi eventually joined the Communist Party in 1974.

Climbing the Political Ladder

Xi Jinping’s rise was gradual, marked by decades of local and provincial leadership roles:

• 1980s–1990s: Xi served in provincial posts in Hebei, Fujian, and Zhejiang. Known for being pragmatic and low-profile, he gained a reputation as a steady hand.

• 2000: He was appointed governor of Fujian Province, where he focused on economic development and attracting investment.

• 2002–2007: As Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Xi managed one of China’s wealthiest provinces, strengthening his reputation as a competent technocrat.

• 2007: Xi briefly led Shanghai after a major political scandal shook the city’s leadership. His ability to stabilize the situation impressed central party officials.

Later that year, Xi was promoted to the Politburo Standing Committee—China’s top governing body. This was the turning point in his political career.

Becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party

In 2012, Xi Jinping was chosen as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, succeeding Hu Jintao.

• At first, many expected him to be a compromise leader, someone who would follow collective leadership traditions.

• But Xi quickly defied those expectations. He launched an anti-corruption campaign that punished both “tigers and flies” (high- and low-level officials).

• While the campaign was popular among the public, critics argue it also allowed Xi to purge political rivals and consolidate power.

In 2013, he became President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, giving him full control of the party, the state, and the military.

Consolidating Power

Xi Jinping wasted no time reshaping China’s political landscape.

1. Ending Term Limits: In 2018, the National People’s Congress abolished presidential term limits, effectively allowing Xi to rule indefinitely.

2. Centralizing Authority: He chairs multiple “leading small groups” that oversee economic, security, and reform policies, giving him direct influence over almost every sector.

3. Ideological Control: Xi has promoted “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” which was written into the Communist Party constitution — a rare honor previously given to Mao.

4. Military Modernization: Xi has prioritized modernizing the People’s Liberation Army, aiming to make it a world-class fighting force by 2049.

5. Global Ambitions: Under Xi, China has launched the Belt and Road Initiative, expanded its global influence, and taken a more assertive stance in international affairs.

The Comparison to Mao Zedong

Many analysts compare Xi Jinping to Mao Zedong, the founder of modern China.

• Like Mao, Xi has cultivated a cult of personality, with his image and ideology promoted in schools, media, and propaganda.

• He has dismantled the tradition of collective leadership established after Mao, concentrating authority in his own hands.

• However, unlike Mao, Xi rules a wealthy, globally integrated China, making his power both more expansive and more complex.

Final Thoughts

Xi Jinping’s rise from the son of a purged revolutionary to the most powerful leader in modern China is one of the most remarkable political stories of the 21st century.

Through discipline, pragmatism, and a relentless drive for control, Xi has reshaped China’s politics, economy, and place in the world. Whether seen as a reformer, a nationalist, or an authoritarian, one thing is clear: Xi Jinping’s era has only just begun.

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