China’s Fourth Issue of “Qiushi” Magazine: Xi Jinping’s Article Draws Criticism and Concerns
According to a report by the Chinese Communist Party’s official media “Xinhua News Agency”, the fourth issue of “Qiushi” magazine published on February 16 will feature an article by Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, titled “Uphold and improve the People’s Congress system to ensure that the people are the masters of the country.” The article, which will contain excerpts from Xi Jinping’s discussions from December 2012 to June 2023, is set to be published just ahead of the upcoming National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
In the article, Xi Jinping emphasizes the importance of the People’s Congress system and its fundamental role in ensuring the party’s leadership, the people’s ownership of the country, and the governing of the country according to law. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has put forward six principles to be adhered to. These include the leadership of the Communist Party of China, using the institutional system to ensure that the people are the masters of the country, governing the country comprehensively according to law, and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities.
The concept of “whole-process democracy” was also highlighted in the article, with Xi Jinping mentioning it after the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee as he inspected Shanghai’s grassroots communities. “Whole-process democracy” encompasses process democracy, outcome democracy, procedural democracy, substantive democracy, direct democracy, indirect democracy, people’s democracy, and the unity of the country’s will. This comprehensive approach to democracy was described as the broadest and most effective form of socialist democracy.
However, the article and its content have sparked criticism and concerns from various quarters. Lai Jianping, the Canadian chairman of the Democratic Front, described the article as a clumsy attempt by the Communist Party to deceive and confuse people. He emphasized that the CCP’s use of terminology to redefine democracy and its attempts to present itself as a democratic force were nothing but a facade aiming to maintain its personal dictatorship.
Additionally, senior political commentator Lan Shu noted that the emphasis on “whole-process democracy” could be perceived as an attempt by the CCP to tighten its control over the democratic process, potentially reducing the space for public participation and representation in the National People’s Congress.
The publication of this article has raised further concerns about the CCP’s commitment to true democracy and the actual representation of the people’s will in the political process. As tensions continue to rise both domestically and internationally, the CCP’s propaganda tactics and attempts to redefine democracy are under increasing scrutiny.
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