Xi knows China cannot afford internal revolt, external threat

I refer to the commentary “Xi’s speeches reveal what makes China’s elite tick” (Dec 5).

The top leader of a governing party is able to shape or alter his party’s ideology of governance and determine his country’s future. The success story of Singapore is an example.

In China, Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, resulted in the country’s retrogression for at least a decade. Then, Deng Xiaoping’s reform programme lifted restrictions on foreign trade, opening up the economy and spurring China towards modernisation.

As its top leader now, Mr Xi Jinping knows that China cannot afford to suffer internal insurgency and external threats.

Especially as the country is concentrating on developing its economy and strengthening its defence, he has to adopt a pragmatic approach in implementing China’s economic, political and foreign policies, hence the non-antagonism.

Domestically, Mr Xi’s socio-economic policies seem to be aimed at stability and the advantages from technological innovation. He would know that only by ensuring high employment can China achieve the objectives of economic stability and social harmony.

In foreign policy, he is seen to be working towards military non-alliance, non-aggression and political non-interference. And so far, China has been doing its best to adopt dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes in foreign affairs.