General Secretaryship of Xi Jinping

The General Secretaryship of Xi Jinping refers to the period of Chinese Communist Party leadership that began when Xi Jinping succeeded Hu Jintao as general secretary at the conclusion of the 18th National Congress in November 2012. The term is used to describe both Xi's tenure in the party's highest office and the political system, policy priorities, institutional changes, and governing style associated with it. Chinese Communist Party materials describe the period as the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Xi's leadership has placed the Communist Party at the center of political, economic, social, cultural, military, and administrative life. The party has emphasized discipline, ideological unity, supervision of cadres, and the principle that the party leads across government, the military, society, education, and other major institutions. Xi has also accumulated multiple senior positions, including general secretary of the CCP and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while serving as president of the People's Republic of China. In 2016, the party identified Xi as a leadership core, a status historically associated with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin. A defining feature of the period has been the anti-corruption campaign, which investigated and punished officials at many levels. High-ranking figures, including former Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, were removed from political life. Supporters presented the campaign as necessary to restore party discipline and public confidence, while critics argued that disciplinary enforcement also strengthened Xi's political authority and weakened rival networks. The administration has promoted the concept of common prosperity, targeted poverty alleviation, advanced manufacturing, technological self-reliance, military-civil fusion, and a stronger role for state-owned enterprises. In 2021, regulators launched a broad intervention in major technology companies, online education, platform business practices, data governance, and private-sector conduct. The tutoring industry was sharply restricted, partly to reduce household educational costs and social pressure. The property sector also became a major policy concern, with official efforts directed at containing financial risks and restructuring the industry. China's response to COVID-19 initially centered on a strict zero-COVID policy, including extensive testing, quarantines, travel controls, and citywide lockdowns. The policy continued until a rapid shift toward mitigation in December 2022, following widespread public protests and growing economic and social costs. The period also saw increased censorship, digital surveillance, and party influence over civil society and media. International human-rights organizations and foreign governments have criticized policies in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and other areas, while Chinese authorities have described their approach as necessary for national security, stability, and development. Xi's foreign policy has emphasized a Community of Common Destiny for Mankind, expanded international influence, and greater Chinese discourse power in areas such as technology, cyberspace, space, and global governance. The Belt and Road Initiative has supported infrastructure, trade, and diplomatic engagement across Eurasia, Africa, and other regions. Relations with the United States became more confrontational, while tensions continued over Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the China-India border. The period has also been associated with a stronger personal role for Xi in political communication and policy coordination. Xi Jinping Thought has been incorporated into party and state constitutional documents. The 2018 removal of presidential term limits, the 2021 historical resolution, and Xi's re-election as party general secretary and military commission chairman for a third term in 2022 further consolidated his position. The general secretaryship therefore describes not a commercial brand, but a political leadership era centered on the CCP's strengthened authority and Xi's status as its core leader.

Xi Jinping's general secretaryship began in November 2012, when the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party selected him to succeed Hu Jintao. Xi simultaneously became chairman of the Central Military Commission, giving him control of the party and military leadership before he assumed the state presidency in 2013. The CCP subsequently presented the period beginning in 2012 as a New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Early in the tenure, Xi stressed party discipline, ideological unity, and opposition to corruption. The anti-corruption campaign targeted officials and political networks across the party, military, state enterprises, and provincial administrations. Its most prominent cases included the downfall of Zhou Yongkang, a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee. The campaign was accompanied by revived party study, criticism and self-criticism meetings, tighter membership standards, and stronger supervision of cadres. The administration also altered the machinery of decision-making. Central leading groups were established to coordinate policy across ministerial boundaries, often under Xi's direct leadership. These bodies were later upgraded into commissions. Their expansion strengthened party control over economic policy, cybersecurity, foreign affairs, financial affairs, reform, and technology. The 2013 third plenum adopted a broad reform program and announced the abolition of the laogai re-education-through-labour system. At the same time, policy coordination increasingly moved toward party organs, reducing the autonomy traditionally associated with government ministries and the premier's office. Xi's domestic agenda combined poverty reduction, common prosperity, advanced manufacturing, technological development, support for state-owned enterprises, military-civil fusion, and efforts to contain financial risks in the property sector. A major regulatory campaign in 2021 targeted platform technology companies, online finance, data practices, antitrust issues, and private tutoring. These measures were framed by the authorities as efforts to address disorderly capital expansion, social inequality, household burdens, and national-security concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic produced another defining phase. From early 2020 through late 2022, mainland China pursued zero-COVID through lockdowns, mass testing, quarantine systems, and strict movement controls. The policy initially limited viral spread but generated substantial social and economic disruption. Public protests in late 2022 were followed by an abrupt policy reversal and the adoption of a mitigation approach. The political system became more centralized during the period. In 2016, Xi was designated a leadership core. Xi Jinping Thought was incorporated into party and state constitutional documents, while official messaging increasingly promoted Xi as a central and sometimes reverential figure. In 2018, constitutional amendments removed presidential term limits and reorganized supervision institutions. In 2021, the CCP adopted a historical resolution emphasizing the party's achievements and the importance of Xi's core status. In October 2022, Xi was selected for a third term as general secretary and military commission chairman, making him the first party leader since Mao Zedong to receive a third term. Foreign policy under Xi has emphasized the Community of Common Destiny, the Belt and Road Initiative, technological and digital influence, and a larger Chinese role in defining international norms. Relations with the United States became more contentious, while tensions persisted concerning Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the China-India border. Policies toward Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, and civil society have drawn sustained international criticism over political freedoms, human rights, censorship, and surveillance. Chinese authorities have defended these policies as measures supporting sovereignty, security, stability, and development. In 2023, further party and state reforms established or revived central bodies for financial affairs, financial work, science and technology, and social work. These changes reinforced the long-term pattern of integrating party leadership with state governance and placing major strategic domains under direct central coordination.

• 2023

  New central party commissions are established

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  Party and state reforms strengthen central party supervision of finance, technology, and social affairs.

• 2022

  Xi is selected for a third party term

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  The 20th Party Congress and subsequent plenary session re-elect Xi as general secretary and military commission chairman.

• 2021

  Third historical resolution adopted

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  The CCP adopts a resolution assessing its historical achievements and promotes the Two Establishments and Two Upholds.

• 2018

  Presidential term limits are removed

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  Constitutional amendments remove term limits for the president and vice president and establish a National Supervisory Commission.

• 2016

  Xi is designated a leadership core

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  The CCP identifies Xi as a leadership core alongside Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin.

• 2013

  Comprehensive reform agenda adopted

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  The third plenum of the 18th Central Committee approves a broad program of economic, social, and institutional reforms and announces the abolition of the laogai system.

• 2012

  Xi Jinping becomes party general secretary

  [1]General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org

  Xi Jinping succeeds Hu Jintao as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party after the 18th National Congress.

A centralized political leadership framework presenting Xi Jinping as the core of the Chinese Communist Party and defining China's domestic governance, economic strategy, national-security policy, and international posture.

• 2022

  Public protests against zero-COVID controls

  Widespread protests challenged lockdowns and other zero-COVID controls shortly before the policy was rapidly abandoned.

  Source

• 2020

  Human-rights criticism concerning Xinjiang and Hong Kong

  International governments and rights organizations criticized policies involving Uyghurs in Xinjiang and the 2020 Hong Kong national security law, citing alleged abuses, repression, and restrictions on political opposition.

  Source

• 2018

  Controversy over removal of presidential term limits

  The constitutional removal of presidential term limits generated international debate about political succession and the concentration of power around Xi Jinping.

  Source

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• 2021Common prosperity and platform-sector regulation

  China

  The party promoted common prosperity while regulators intensified oversight of technology platforms, online finance, data practices, and private education.

  Outcome. Technology and tutoring businesses faced major regulatory changes, with private tutoring substantially curtailed.

  Source
• 2013Targeted poverty alleviation

  China

  The administration directed resources and local-government systems toward reducing rural and regional poverty.

  Outcome. The campaign became a central element of the official development narrative and was later linked to the claim that China had achieved a moderately prosperous society.

  Source
• 2012Anti-corruption campaign

  China

  A nationwide disciplinary campaign investigated party, government, military, and state-enterprise officials for corruption and breaches of discipline.

  Outcome. It removed numerous officials and strengthened party discipline, while critics viewed it as also consolidating Xi's authority.

  Source

• 2023

  Party and state institutional reformStrategy

  Background

  The leadership sought stronger coordination over finance, technology, and social affairs.

  Action taken

  New or revived central party commissions were assigned oversight of financial work, financial stability, science and technology, and social work.

  Aftermath

  The reforms further integrated party leadership with state administration and increased central control of strategic policy areas.

  Source

• 2022

  Third term as party general secretaryOther

  Background

  The 20th National Congress amended the party constitution and reorganized the senior leadership group.

  Action taken

  Xi was re-elected general secretary and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

  Aftermath

  Xi became the first CCP leader since Mao Zedong to begin a third term, and the new Politburo Standing Committee was dominated by officials regarded as close to him.

  Source

• 2020

  Zero-COVID policyStrategy

  Background

  China responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a strategy prioritizing suppression of community transmission.

  Action taken

  Authorities used lockdowns, mass testing, quarantine, travel restrictions, and digital monitoring.

  Aftermath

  The policy remained in force until December 2022, when protests and economic pressures preceded a rapid shift toward mitigation.

  Source

• 2018

  Removal of presidential term limitsStrategy

  Background

  The party sought to align the state presidency with the party general secretaryship and Central Military Commission chairmanship, offices without equivalent constitutional term limits.

  Action taken

  The National People's Congress approved constitutional amendments removing the previous presidential and vice-presidential term limits.

  Aftermath

  The change enabled Xi to remain president beyond the former two-term limit and intensified debate over succession and political centralization.

  Source

1. 1General Secretaryship of Xi Jinpingen.wikipedia.org