Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Dr. Willy Wo-Lap Lam is a Senior Fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, and has been a regular contributor to China Brief since 2001. He is also a Research Fellow with the Center of Asian Research at the University of Victoria, Canada. He previously taught Chinese politics, history, and foreign affairs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2007–2022) and was China Editor at the South China Morning Post in the 1990s, as well as being an accredited foreign correspondent in Beijing from 1986 to 1989.
Dr. Lam has authored ten books on Chinese elite politics, including two on Xi Jinping. His latest, From Confucius to Xi Jinping: The DNA of Chinese Politics, was published by Routledge in July 2025. He is currently working on his third book on Xi Jinping, expected in 2026.
Contact Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Articles by Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Xi Jinping’s Central Position in Official Media Starts to Erode
Executive Summary: The relative absence of supreme leader Xi Jinping in authoritative media could indicate that his power, though still unassailable, is waning. There were no references to Xi or
Personnel Problems Are Becoming Personal Problems for Xi Jinping
Executive Summary: A lack of viable challenger suggests that Xi Jinping will remain in power, even if he is more vulnerable today, and his power more curtailed, than in years
Xi Seeks to Woo Foreign and Domestic Business
Executive Summary: President Xi Jinping unveiled the “2025 Action Plan to Stabilize Foreign Investment” and met with leading entrepreneurs for the first time in seven years, in an effort to
The Four Main Groups Challenging Xi Jinping
Executive Summary: Xi Jinping faces challenges to his authority from four main groups: retired party elders such as Li Ruihuan and Wen Jiabao; princelings, especially those based overseas; military leaders,
Xi Jinping Challenged Following Spate of Violent Attacks
Executive Summary: Xi Jinping faces mounting challenges to his legitimacy from multiple directions, with economic troubles, mass killings, and corruption in the military eroding his grip on power. A spate
Xi Jinping’s Quantitative Easing Unlikely to Save Economy
Executive Summary: In an apparent U-turn, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has initiated stimulus policies that have boosted the stock market and are attempting to jump-start key sectors and
Xi Sets Out 2029 Vision At The Third Plenum
Executive Summary: Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has solidified his position as the driving force behind achieving a “high-quality socialist market economy” by 2029. The recent CCP
Peng Liyuan Rises Up the Ranks: Implications for Xi’s Despotic Rule
Executive Summary: Recent behavior by General Secretary Xi Jinping suggests a contradiction in his approach to leadership. While he has sacked protégés, suggesting a reckoning with past personnel decisions, he
The National People’s Congress Exposes Xi Jinping’s Problems
Executive Summary: Li Qiang’s government work report offered no significant incentives to help the nation’s three sectors most in need of government support. Economic targets were practically identical to those
Recent PRC Rhetoric Does Not Signify Substantive Diplomatic Shifts
Executive Summary: Liu Jianchao is expected to succeed Qin Gang as foreign minister, emphasizing a focus on maintaining positive relations and creating a market-oriented business environment. But questions have been
Xi Demands Fealty Despite Domestic And Foreign Woes
The Politburo held a “democratic life meeting (民主生活会)” on December 21–22, 2023, in which President Xi Jinping gave an internal, unpublished speech. According to accounts provided to the author by
Much Cause But Little Recourse For Popular Discontent
The last quarter of 2022 saw an outburst of Chinese people power. Citizens in as many as 28 cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Chongqing staged spontaneous protests on their campuses
Issues of Centralization, From Financial Work To Personnel
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping called for tighter Party and state control of the financial sector in the quinquennial Central Financial Work Conference that ended in Beijing
Xi’s Dilemma: The Risk of Waging War Against Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平) faces a dilemma. Around a dozen of his protégés have been found to be so corrupt that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary and
Xi’s Personnel Mismanagement
Paramount leader Xi Jinping (习近平) has been widely blamed by foreign governments and media for failing to take effective measures to remedy an economy hurt by excessive leverage, weak exports,
Coalitions of the Week: BRICS, ASEAN, the G20
Supreme leader Xi Jinping’s failure to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi this weekend (September 9-10) — thus nullifying the possibility of a meeting with top Western leaders including
Xi’s Mismanagement Fuels Political Scandals and Exacerbates Economic Woes
Introduction After emerging as China’s “leader for life” and filling top party organs such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the Politburo with members of his own
Xi Jinping’s Hidden Goals for the PRC Law on Foreign Relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping has promulgated a new law on foreign affairs to legitimize tough measures that Beijing is taking against the “bullying” of the “hegemonic West.” The statute, “The
A Tale of Two Summits: G7 Displays Unity as China Courts Central Asia
The U.S. appears to have succeeded in coaxing its European and Asian allies into adopting a united policy to counter China, even as the Xi Jinping administration flexed its muscle,
Can Beijing Seize the “Opportunity of the Century”?
As President Xi Jinping said farewell to his host and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the end of his visit to Moscow last month, a few Western media outlets caught
U.S.-China Data War Intensifies as Bilateral Relations Nosedive
U.S.-China relations appear headed for further deterioration despite the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) efforts to lure back American multinationals and Beijing’s relatively limited support for Russia in its war
Xi Jinping Thought and The End of (Chinese) History
Soon after the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the American political scientist Francis Fukuyama posited the idea of “the end of history.” In
The New Cold War that Threatens to Turn Hot
The New Cold War that Threatens to Turn Hot Executive Summary The increasingly ferocious competition between the United States and its allies on the one hand, and China and the
National People’s Congress: Premier Li Keqiang Sidesteps Xi’s Economic Approach, Focuses on Reviving Modest Growth
On Sunday, Premier Li Keqiang presented his final Government Work Report (Report) to the National People’s Congress (NPC) laying out broad economic goals while largely steering clear of President Xi
Full Circle: As Spy Balloon Fallout Mounts, Xi Reverts to Old Policy Playbook
While President Xi Jinping has often been criticized by Western politicians, as well as intellectuals inside and outside of China, for restoring quasi-Maoist values, he has at least been consistent
Will a Successor to Xi Jinping Emerge from the Party’s Seventh-Generation Leadership?
Introduction General Secretary Xi Jinping has a long record of breaking with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rules and conventions. At the recently concluded 20th Party Congress, he made himself the
Will Mass Protests Force Xi to Change Course on Zero-COVID?
The apparent failure by Beijing to determine new ways to handle the COVID-19 pandemic given what many consider the largest mass protests since the student movement of 1989 has exposed
The 20th Party Congress: Xi Jinping Exerts Overwhelming Control Over Personnel, but Offers No Clues on Reviving the Economy
General Secretary Xi Jinping has scored an overwhelming victory at the recently concluded 20th Party Congress and the First Plenum of the new Central Committee. Xi’s picks for the Politburo
Reuters Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on China’s New Premier
On October 23, Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam was quoted in a Reuters article concerning the People's Republic of China's new Premier, Li Qiang.
CNBC International Interviews Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on China’s New Leadership
On October 24, CNBC International interviewed Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam, concerning the conclusion of the CCP's 20th Party Congress and President Xi's new leadership lineup.
The Guardian Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on Li Qiang
On October 23, The Guardian quoted Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam about Li Qiang, who may become China's new Premier as a result of the 20th Party Congress.
NPR’s “All Things Considered” Interviews Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam About the 20th Party Congress
On October 23, NPR's radio show "All Things Considered" interviewed Dr. Willy Lam about China's 20th Party Congress and what it means for President Xi Jinping.
Agence France-Presse Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on Xi’s Historic Third Term
On October 22, Agence France-Presse quoted Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on President Xi's historic third term.
The Guardian Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on Xi’s New Power
On October 22, The Guardian quoted Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on the People's Republic of China's 20th Party Congress and President Xi's new power.
The Sydney Morning Herald Interviews Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam About Xi’s New Appointees
On October 18, The Sydney Morning Herald interviewed Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam about President Xi's new appointees at the 20th Party Congress.
PBS Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on China’s Foreign Policy Path
On October 17, PBS (via AP) quoted Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam about the future of China's policies.
Nikkei Asia Quotes Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam on Contenders for Leadership in China
On October 15, Nikkei Asia quoted Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Lam, concerning the contenders at the 20th Party Congress for senior leadership positions in China.
The 20th Party Congress and the Future of Elite Politics in China: An Interview with Willy Wo-Lap Lam
It is widely perceived that President Xi Jinping sees China as enmeshed in a broader struggle between an axis of authoritarian powers on the one hand and the U.S. and
Will the Xi Jinping Leadership Take Up Reformist Policies After the 20th Party Congress?
That President Xi Jinping and his faction will dominate the 20th Party Congress is apparent from the Politburo announcement that the week-long, five-yearly conclave will take place on October 16.
The 20th Party Congress: Xi Set to Score Big in Composition of Next Leadership Corps
Introduction Despite the resentment among many top cadres against the personality cult that has been relentlessly built up around President and commander-in-chief Xi Jinping, the Machiavellian infighter is expected to
Economic Woes Worsen as Support for Xi Jinping’s Leadership Begins to Falter
The relentless cascade of bad economic news in China has not only cast doubt on the governance ability of the Xi Jinping leadership, but has also called into question the
Xi Jinping is Poised to Become “Leader for Life” in Exchange for Sharing Politburo Seats with Rivals
Introduction President Xi Jinping has presided over a dramatic enhancement of his own personality cult in the run-up to the 20th Party Congress this autumn. The latest sign of this
Xi Jinping Revives Pro-market Policies to Bolster Economy Ahead of 20th Party Congress
Are President Xi Jinping’s recent turn to liberalized measures on technology firms and his commitment to using infrastructure projects to boost the economy an indication that the supreme leader has
Xi Jinping Ponders Aid to Russia even as Beijing Reaffirms its Quasi-Alliance with Moscow
Introduction The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has subtly changed the tone of its characterization of the Russian war against Ukraine. It is highly doubtful, however, that supreme leader President
At National People’s Congress, Strong Emphasis on Stability Militates Against Reform
The slogan “seeking progress in the midst of stability” sums up Premier Li Keqiang’s annual Government Work Report (henceforward- the Report) to the National People’s Congress (NPC), which opened in
As Rival Factions Gain Traction, Xi Seeks to Secure Support from the Military
Factional rivalry and internecine bickering within the 95 million-strong Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has become so apparent that usually circumspect propaganda outlets are no longer shy about airing dirty laundry
Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Wo-Lap Lam Interviewed by The New York Times on Scandal Involving Hong Kong Officials
On January 9, The New York Times ran an article on a scandal involving Hong Kong government elites that featured an interview with Jamestown Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Wo-Lap Lam.
All-Out Defense of “Chinese-Style Democracy” Exposes Cracks in Xi Jinping’s Armor
In the run-up to the U.S. “Democracy Summit” hosted by President Joe Biden on December 9-10, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) pulled out all the stops to convince the world
Did Xi Jinping Secure “Leader for Life” Status at the Sixth Plenum?
The words “leader for life” do not appear in the communique summarizing the Resolution on History passed at the Sixth Plenum of the 19th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee
Factional Strife Intensifies as Xi Strives to Consolidate Power
More evidence has emerged of a ferocious power struggle between China’s supreme leader, President Xi Jinping and powerful factions and personages including former Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and current Vice President
Xi Facing Opposition on Different Fronts in Run-Up to Key Party Plenum
Introduction A controversy is raging among the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over General Secretary Xi Jinping’s advocacy of “common prosperity,” which has included forcing giant private
Early Warning Brief: Implications of Xi’s Revival of the Maoist Slogan “Common Prosperity”
Introduction The Chinese President Xi Jinping has masterminded a major policy shift for the world’s second largest economy by underscoring the imperative of “common prosperity” (共同富裕, Gongtong fuyu). At a
Early Warning Brief: Xi Jinping Issues Tough Warnings to Enemies Within the Party
Introduction While President Xi Jinping’s position as the most powerful politician in China seems beyond doubt, he has been busy quashing apparently growing dissent within the mid- to upper echelons
Looking Back on Short Flashes of Liberalization in the Chinese Communist Party’s 100 Years
Introduction After Mao Zedong (毛泽东, 1893-1976) became the undisputed leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1936, he began a thorough-going purge of the party’s earliest generation of free-thinking
Xi Jinping Stresses His Historical Preeminence in Preparation for the CCP Centenary
Introduction The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has taken multiple measures to consolidate his position as “core for life” of the CCP leadership in the run-up to
Early Warning Brief: The Xi Administration Openly Challenges American Global Leadership And Takes Multiple Measures to Counter Washington’s Containment
Introduction The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership has openly challenged Washington’s role as global rule-setter. The administration of CCP General Secretary and state president Xi Jinping (习近平) has also taken
Early Warning Brief – China’s NPC and CPPCC: Xi Defies the West by Boosting Technological Self-Sufficiency And Crushing Hong Kong’s Freedoms
(Editor's note: This article was updated on March 15.) Introduction President Xi Jinping has boosted China’s ability to defy foreign threats by promoting technological self-sufficiency and tightening freedoms previously granted
Xi Jinping Boosts the Party’s Control and His Own Authority
Introduction Under Xi Jinping, the leadership of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has initiated multi-pronged measures to ensure the success of celebrations marking the centenary of the establishment of
Early Warning Brief: Beijing’s Blunt Message to President-elect Joe Biden
Introduction The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has sent a polite but blunt message to the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden, urging the resumption of high-level ties
“Helmsman” Xi Jinping primed to rule at least until the early 2030s
Introduction The Fifth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Central Committee, which took place from October 26 – 29, has elevated the status of President and CCP General
Beijing Raises Shenzhen’s Status at the Expense of Hong Kong
Introduction In mid-October, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping unveiled reformist rhetoric by pledging to turn the southern city of Shenzhen (Guangdong Province) into a "comprehensive reform pilot
The CCP Extends Its Policies of Forced Ethnic Assimilation to Inner Mongolia
Introduction The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has extended its draconian policies regarding the forced assimilation of ethnic minorities into the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区, Nei
The CCP’s Economic Plans in the Lead-Up to the Fifth Party Plenum
Introduction Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has given top priority to a policy of domestic consumption and innovation to ensure “safe economic growth” and to counter U.S.
Beijing Imposes Its New “National Security” Law on Hong Kong (Updated)
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published as a Jamestown Early Warning Brief on July 3; it has since been updated and expanded for re-publication in this issue of China
Jamestown Early Warning Brief: Beijing Imposes Its New “National Security” Law on Hong Kong
Introduction The central government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has imposed sweeping new national security legislation on Hong Kong, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for
Beijing Announces Its Intention to Impose a New “National Security” Law on Hong Kong
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published as a Jamestown “Early Warning Brief” on May 26. It has since been updated for re-publication here. Introduction: Beijing Introduces Draft “National Security”
“State Companies Advance and Private Firms Retreat” in China’s Bid to Resuscitate the Economy
Introduction: Beijing’s Plans for Stimulus Spending and “Six Stabilizations” After the bombshell announcement that the Chinese economy contracted by an unprecedented 6.8 percent in the first quarter of this year,
The Coronavirus Pandemic and the Rise of Chinese Civil Society
Introduction: China’s Civil Society Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic According to figures provided by People’s Republic of China (PRC) authorities, the COVID-19 pandemic peaked in early March. One day after Chinese
Beijing’s Appointment of Xia Baolong Signals a Harder Line on Hong Kong
Introduction Beijing has signaled a much tougher policy toward the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) with the announcement on February 13 that Xia Baolong (夏宝龙), the Vice-Chairman of the
Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Lam Discusses Purges in Chinese Regional Leadership in World Tribune Interview
A February 13 article in the World Tribune cites remarks by Senior Fellow Willy Lam regarding the appointment of Xia Baolong to oversee Hong Kong affairs for the central Chinese
How the Wuhan Epidemic Has Dented Xi Jinping’s Authority and Prestige
Introduction In his telephone conversation with President Trump on February 6, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping expressed confidence that Beijing can beat the coronavirus outbreak, and asserted
Beijing Piles More Pressure on Taiwan after a Historic Victory by Tsai Ing-Wen
Introduction How will Beijing react to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s resounding re-election victory on January 11, when she garnered a historic 8 million votes, or 57.13 percent of the electorate?
The Central Committee Fourth Plenum Gives Further Powers to the CCP Leadership “Core”
Introduction Is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) finally putting systems and institutions before the rule of personality? The much-delayed Fourth Plenum of the 19th CCP Central Committee, an annual meeting
Book Launch: The Fight for China’s Future – Civil Society vs. the Chinese Communist Party
The Jamestown Foundation is proud to announce the release of Senior Fellow Dr. Willy Wo-Lap Lam's new book, 'The Fight for China's Future.' Join us for a launch event featuring a
Xi Signals a New Round of “Struggle” Against Foes in the Party
A Renewed Call for “Struggle” Within the CCP Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping has called for a season of renewed douzheng (斗争), or “struggle,” to tackle the
Will Xi Jinping Deploy the PLA Garrison to Quell Hong Kong’s “Turmoil”?
Introduction: The CCP Confronts “Turmoil” in Hong Kong A central question surrounding the Hong Kong protests is whether People’s Republic of China (PRC) President and Commander-in-Chief Xi Jinping will deploy
Xi Jinping Evokes the “Original Aspirations” of the Communist Party— While Seeking to Further Consolidate His Hold on Power
Introduction Beijing is preparing for a host of major meetings and anniversaries in the months ahead. The first of these will be the annual senior leadership summer retreat at the
Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Lam Cited by The New York Times
Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Lam was quoted by The New York Times in a recent article on the recent mass protests that have broken out in Hong Kong in response
The June 4th Massacre and the Militarization of Chinese Politics
Introduction: The Legacy of June 1989 Although the wounds of the June 4, 1989 massacre thirty years ago have not healed, it is imperative that the right lessons be drawn
China’s Seventh-Generation Leadership Emerges onto the Stage
Introduction—Could the Seventh Generation Be the Next in Power? Much of China’s future lies in the hands of cadres born in the 1970s—officials belonging to the “Seventh Generation” (7G) of
“Stability Maintenance” Gets a Major Boost at the National People’s Congress
The Theme of “Stability Maintenance” at the National People’s Congress Since the mid-2010s, the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been preoccupied with ensuring a relatively high growth rate for
Xi Jinping Warns Against the “Black Swans” and “Gray Rhinos” of a Possible Color Revolution
Introduction During the Lunar New Year holidays, political circles in Beijing were abuzz with this question: “Who, or what, are ‘black swans’ and ‘gray rhinos’?” This followed a major speech
Who are Xi Jinping’s Enemies?
Something unexpected took place during a recent four-day “southern tour” by CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in Guangdong Province, the province where Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of reform, launched
Vatican Agreement Latest Front in Xi’s Widening Religious Clampdown
A new agreement between the PRC and the Vatican on the joint appointment of bishops demonstrates that the administration of CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping appears to have won a
Xi Reasserts Control Over PRC Politics As Trade War Deepens
President Xi Jinping seems to have resumed his status as “leadership core” and primary decision-maker after a two-month period of adopting a low profile within the party. The leader was
Xi’s Grip Loosens Amid Trade War Policy Paralysis
A spate of unusual reports in Hong Kong and overseas Chinese-language media lend credence to the idea that, while Xi Jinping remains China’s undisputed paramount, his authority seems somewhat diminished.
Hard Edges of China’s Soft Power Projection Meeting Increasing Resistance
The hard edges of China’s global soft power projection have been put under the microscope in a June 19 White House document entitled How China’s Economic Aggression Threatens the Technologies
The Many Sides of Tentative Sino-Japanese Rapprochement
A recent, unexpected rapprochement between China and Japan has emerged more quickly than many observers thought possible. And unlike previous instances since the two countries recognized each other in 1972,
Concern Mounts in Beijing over Xi’s Aggressive Tactics
Recent days have seen a burst of relatively moderate views from official opinion-makers in China. Global Times chief editor Hu Xijin wrote in his weibo blog last week that “our
The Globe and Mail Interviews Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Lam
Jamestown Senior Fellow Willy Wo-Lap Lam was interviewed, on April 24, by The Globe and Mail regarding the Chinese authorities' arrest of two individuals with Canadian ties
At China’s ‘Two Sessions’, Xi Jinping Restructures Party-state to Further Consolidate Power
One common theme has run through the “two sessions”—a reference to the just-ended plenary sessions of the National Peoples’ Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)—which handled
Xi Jinping Steers China back to the Days of Mao Zedong
Chinese politics has undergone a stunning retrogression in the wake of a terse announcement by Xinhua News Agency on February 25 that an impending revision of the state constitution would
The Xi Jinping Faction Dominates Regional Appointments After the 19th Party Congress
In mid-January, the Chinese Communist Party further confirmed Xi Jinping’s status as the second-most powerful politician since Chairman Mao Zedong by enshrining “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics
What is “Xiconomics”?
In 2017, Xi Jinping consolidated his control over much of the Party and State apparatus, culminating in October when “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New
Central Government Cracks Down on “Low-End” Citizens While Praising “Poverty Alleviation” Efforts
In the wake of a fire on November 18 in a poor Beijing suburb that killed 19 people, police equipped with bulldozers and heavy-duty demolition equipment evicted several tens of
Has Xi Jinping Become “Emperor for Life”?
The just-ended 19th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress has confirmed Xi Jinping’s status as China’s “Emperor for Life.” The 64-year-old “core leader” has filled the country’s highest-ruling councils—the Politburo and
The Irresistible Rise of the “Xi Family Army”
Under President Xi Jinping, whose main power base is the People’s Liberation Army, the famous adage “power grows out of the barrel of a gun” has assumed added significance (China
What is Xi Jinping Thought?
Ahead of the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), scheduled to begin on October 18, media attention has focused on top-level personnel changes. While the selection of China’s
Beijing Harnesses Big Data & AI to Perfect the Police State
Even by the standards of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the brutal treatment of China’s first Nobel Prize winner, Liu Xiaobo, has breached the norms of civilized behavior. The third
Xi Jinping Promotes Protégés to Top Positions in run-up to 19th Party Congress
Much attention has been paid to how, in the wake of the seemingly isolationist tendencies of President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping is highlighting Beijing’s readiness to provide global leadership
China’s Global Power Projection Hit With “Strategic Overdraft”
Despite the tough challenges facing the Chinese economy, President and “core leader” Xi Jinping is going ahead with ambitious plans to project Chinese power worldwide including the landmark One Belt
Xi’s Korea Policies Stumble
On March 7, the United States began installation of a Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system in on a golf course outside Seoul, South Korea. Washington and Seoul did so
Beijing’s New Scorched-Earth Policy Against the Uighurs
Under the pretext of joining the global war on terrorism, the Xi Jinping administration has imposed unprecedentedly harsh restrictions on the civil liberties and rights of the 10 million Uighurs
The Emergence of the Wang Qishan Faction
The proverb “mandarins can set big fires, but common folks can’t even light a candle” is often used to describe the often-outlandish privileges enjoyed by the authorities. After the recent
Xi Jinping Uses New “Leadership Core” Status to Boost His Faction
The just-ended Sixth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee elevated President Xi Jinping to the status of “core of the leadership.” However, few concrete measures to fight
Beijing Talks Tough About “New Cold War” in Asia
Beijing has declared a New Cold War against “hostile anti-China forces in the West,” a code word for the United States and its Asia-Pacific allies (Military.China.com, August 26; Chinaiiss.com, August
Beijing Contradicts “Rule of Law” Campaign in Crackdown
The recent trial of lawyers, legal assistants and NGO personnel who were detained during mass arrests more than a year ago has given the clearest indication to date of whether
Intellectuals Lobby For More Freedom As President Xi Faces Pushback From Party Rivals
Academics, journalists and other free-thinking intellectuals have taken the bold step of calling for more freedom of expression and less Internet censorship. Others want to resuscitate long-stalled political reform. For
The Eclipse of the Communist Youth League and the Rise of the Zhejiang Clique
Power struggle is not a dinner party. Internecine bickering and back-stabbing among rival factions and personalities are intensifying as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) prepares for its 19th Congress next
Pushback against Xi Jinping’s One-Upmanship Strengthens
“Every bush and tree is an enemy” is a Chinese proverb that describes how the timid Emperor Fu Jian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 AD) was once so overawed
Will “Core of the Leadership” Xi Jinping Rule for 15 Years Or More?
In December 2015, Chinese President, Communist Party Secretary and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping took on the additional title of “Core of the Leadership” (“领导核心”). This is just one
Xi’s Obsession with “Cultural Renaissance” Raises Fears of Another Cultural Revolution
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (GPCR) (1966–76), a political and cultural watershed for China. Chinese rock star and pop culture
After the Election: The Future of Cross-Strait Relations
Barring an upset of momentous proportions, Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is expected to defeat the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) or Nationalist Party, during presidential elections scheduled for January 16.
China’s Anti-Graft Campaign in Review
China’s anti-graft campaign reached a milestone last month with the early November detention of Shanghai and Beijing Vice Mayors, Ai Baojun and Lu Xiwen, respectively, on corruption charges. At least
Xi Jinping Consolidates Power While Presiding Over Tilt Toward Ultra-Conservative Ideals
Even as President Xi Jinping underscored China’s commitment to reform and globalization during his high-profile trips to the United States and Britain over the past two months, the Fifth Generation
Xi Jinping Burnishes Foreign Policy Credentials Despite Lack of Achievement At U.S. Summit
Despite a lack of concrete achievements in his summit with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping has accomplished a more important goal for his domestic audience—burnishing his
President Xi Suspects Political Conspiracy Behind Tianjin Blasts
Almost immediately after the devastating explosions near Tianjin Port at 11 pm, August 12, President Xi Jinping convened his closest aides to check whether there was any political motivation behind
President Xi Lays Down His Own “Political Rules”
In the run-up to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Fifth Central Committee Plenum scheduled for October, President Xi Jinping has adopted a number of tactics to consolidate his power. Xi,
Stock Market Crash Reveals Serious Flaws in the Xi Administration’s Economic Policies
The recent Chinese stock market crisis has exposed the fallacy of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) contention that it is possible to seek economic development and reform without commensurate political
White Paper Expounds Civil-Military Relations in Xi Era
As the world observed the 26th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the focus has remained on how this cataclysmic event has rolled back reforms and exacerbated the trend of
New York Times Interviewed Senior Fellow Willy Lam
Willy Lam was interviewed by the New York Times' China blog Sinosphere on his latest book Chinese Politics in the Era of Xi Jinping: Renaissance, Reform, or Retrogression?.
“One Belt, One Road” Enhances Xi Jinping’s Control Over the Economy
Much of the world’s interest in China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) strategy—a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR)—is focused
The Generals’ Growing Clout in Diplomacy
A recent foreign policy debate in the Chinese media has thrown into sharp relief the extent of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) generals’ influence on the country’s diplomacy. Wang Zhanyang,
A Modern Cult of Personality? Xi Jinping Aspires To Be The Equal of Mao and Deng
Having been in office for just over two years, President Xi Jinping has already laid claim to being the third most powerful politician of post-liberation China, just after Chairman Mao
Growing CCDI Power Brings Questions of Politically-Motivated Purge
“There is no quota for the anti-graft campaign, and there is no upper limit [regarding the rank of cadres to be disciplined].” This is the latest instruction given by Chinese
Members of the Xi Jinping Clique Revealed
Fourteen months after the watershed 18th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress, President Xi Jinping has emerged as a strongman whose power is deemed to be more extensive and entrenched than
Wang Yang: The Future Torchbearer of Reform?
With the 18th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress a mere six months or so away, the identity of senior cadres who will make the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) has pretty
China’s Brain Drain Dilemma: Elite Emigration
A popular Internet writer recently caused a stir when he asserted that “all Chinese who earn more than 120,000 yuan ($17,650) a year want to immigrate.” While this view is
Reorienting the 17th Party Congress: Boosting Unity and Thwarting Taiwan
Nearly overnight, the focus of the 17th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress has shifted from the debate regarding Chinese political and economic reform to the promotion of internal party unity
China’s Fourth Generation Gets Savvy With Taiwan “splittists”
That Taiwan's Legislative Yuan had passed a watered-down version of the Law on Referendum on November 27 has hardly brought a respite to the looming cross-Straits crisis. The day before,
ONE-COUNTRY TWO-SYSTEMS AFTER “7-1”
By Willy Lam The future of "one country, two systems" has become even murkier after Beijing's high profile endorsement of Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa earlier this month. Moreover,
MODEST PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
By Willy Lam Although political liberalization seems to have met with at least a temporary setback in China, a modest proposal about constitutional reform put forward by veteran reformer Cao
HU AND JIANG STRUGGLE FOR PRIMACY
By Willy Lam Ex-president Jiang Zemin and his still powerful Shanghai Faction are returning fire after a political season that has witnessed the relentless expansion of the clout of President
HU NOW LEADS ON TAIWAN
By Willy Lam President Hu Jintao will intensify both united front tactics and "military readiness" after having taken over the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Leading Group on Taiwan Affairs. The
PLA SEEKS A NEW LEAP FORWARD
By Willy Lam Although he is generally deemed a moderate--if not liberal--cadre on political matters, President Hu Jintao issued a remarkably tough message on defense and armaments at a Chinese
CRISES CHISEL AT THE PLA’S CREDIBILITY
By Willy Lam The standing of the People's Liberation Army (PLA)--and its commander-in-chief, Jiang Zemin--has taken a drubbing in the wake of China's raging pneumonia epidemic and a recent submarine
SARS: GROWING IMPACT ON CHINA’S LEADERSHIP
By Willy Lam In addition to shaving perhaps 0.5 percent from China's GDP growth this year, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) will have a lasting socio-political impact
SARS CRISIS: BEIJING’S LEADERSHIP SLOWLY RESPONDS
In addition to hurting Beijing's global image and its foreign-exchange earnings, China's raging pneumonia epidemic could also deal a big blow to the administration of Hu Jintao, and particularly to
BEIJING STUDIES THE U.S. WAR IN IRAQ
Chinese strategic and military experts are scrutinizing the U.S. war in Iraq, and for several reasons. First, if American and British forces become bogged down in their effort to liquidate
NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS: POPULARITY AND POWER
by Willy Lam Newly elected President Hu Jintao and his allies should take heart from the results of the recently concluded First Session of the Tenth National People's Congress
NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS MANEUVERS: JIANG ON TOP
Major personnel decisions to be made at the ongoing First Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) will have fateful consequences for the factional balance within the Chinese Communist
POWER POLITICS BEFORE THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS
by Willy Lam As befits a country where rule of personality--rather than rule of law--holds sway, much of the concern of the new administration under Chinese Communist Party General
SECURITY, STABILITY, REFORM
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Security will be the watchword of the new administration of Wen Jiabao, due to be named prime minister at the National People's Congress (NPC) early next
PARTY BOSSES SLOG IT OUT IN BEIJING
Personnel issues are set to dominate the First Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), due to convene on March 5. After having nailed down a sizeable number of
HU JINTAO: PLAYING BY THE RULES
New Chinese Communist Party (CCP) chief Hu Jintao is relying on two primary weapons in waging what could be a protracted struggle against the Jiang Zemin or Shanghai Faction: legalism
THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT
While the Chinese Communist Party pledged at its 16th Congress barely six weeks ago to justify its mandate of heaven by building a "comprehensive well-off society," it is also beefing
SIGNS OF AN ANTI-JIANG BACKLASH ARE GROWING
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam While China's new Communist Party chief Hu Jintao has hardly emerged as first among equals--let alone the dominant figure--in China's new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC), his
THE NEW DEAL IN BEIJING
So far as its main purpose--ensuring a smooth, orderly political succession--is concerned, the 16th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress has spawned as many problems as it has solved. President Jiang
THE “RED CAPITALISTS” SLIP IN THE DOOR
Whether private businessmen will get due recognition at the 16th Communist Party Congress has become a litmus test of the leadership's commitment to both economic and political reform. Latest indications
ZENG QINGHONG: A MAN TO WATCH
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam One of China's many ironies is that most of the prospects for political reform may well hinge on one of the least popular cadres of the
PREMIER ZHU FIGHTS FOR HIS LEGACY
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Zhu Rongji has a habit of saying intriguing things when he is abroad. And when cadres who do not see eye to eye with him, including
EXPLOITING A FAVORABLE CLIMATE
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Beijing is exploiting to the utmost Washington's and the UN's recent decisions to classify the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist organization. CCP leadership
JIANG TURNS BACK THE CLOCK
The damage has already been done. Whether Jiang Zemin will give up all his positions at the 16th Communist Party Congress aside, his efforts at recycling dynastic politics over the
CHEN’S REFERENDUM FLAP
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Hawkish officers in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) have cited Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's remarks on the island's statehood and its readiness for a referendum on
RETIREMENT: HU’S PROBLEM, JIANG’S CONUNDRUM
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam That Jiang Zemin's apparent refusal to retire has wrought havoc on an already rickety political system is clear from the reactions of the two persons deemed
CLASS WARFARE IN THE OFFING?
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam One of the biggest contradictions of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) politics is that while the Jiang Zemin leadership is trying to phase out class struggle, antagonism
ECONOMIC RECOVERY, AT A PRICE
President Jiang Zemin and his aides have given unmistakable indications that Beijing is taking a harder line on Hong Kong. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership, however, has also dangled
HONG KONG, 1997-2002
When Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrives in Hong Kong on June 30 for what could be his last official visit to the Special Administrative Region (SAR), he should have ample
MOSCOW TILTS WEST, BEIJING WORRIES
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Spin-doctoring by Russian leaders--and the Chinese media--can scarcely change or hide the fact that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership remains deeply troubled by Moscow's tilt
THE JIANG PROTEGES AND THE JIANG THEORY
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam President Jiang Zemin has made significant headway in pushing his proteges' prospects in the run-up to the 16th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress this autumn. But
HU’S VISIT: MORE TALK THAN PROGRESS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Vice President Hu Jintao and his entourage have put a most positive spin on his just-completed U.S. tour, but scanty coverage in the Chinese media seems
WILL THE HEIR APPARENT BE A WEAK NUMBER ONE?
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Vice President Hu Jintao has encountered some problems in factional infighting within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)--and this could affect his pivotal trip to the United
STABILITY AT THE EXPENSE OF REFORM?
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam More than twelve years after Deng Xiaoping launched the open door policy, the Chinese leadership has still not solved the contradiction between stability and reform. Whenever
WEN JIABAO: A REFORMER AT HEART?
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam There seems little question that, given the constraints of Chinese politics, Vice Premier Wen Jiabao is a reasonably suitable candidate to succeed Zhu Rongji as premier
CHANGING OF THE LOCAL GUARDS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam China watchers worldwide are focused on leadership changes expected at the 16th Communist Party congress this autumn. But reshuffles of perhaps equal significance are taking place
HU JINTAO: EMERGING FROM THE SEMI-SHADOWS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam After President George W. Bush's visit to China, whether--and how--Hu Jintao will modify Beijing's long-standing U.S. policy has become one of the most crucial questions in
BEIJING’S TAKE ON BUSH’S VISIT
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Forget about the "constructive strategic partnership." Beijing has officially dropped the goal for Sino-American ties President Jiang Zemin and former President Bill Clinton reached in 1998.
CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS UNLIKELY TO LESSEN
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Contrary to expectations, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen's vaunted olive branch for Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is unlikely to reduce Cross-Strait tension in the foreseeable future. Qian's
ZHU MANEUVERS FOR SUCCESSION
Premier Zhu Rongji, China's best-known reformer, is on the defensive in the factional infighting that is tipped to worsen in the run-up to the 16th Communist Party Congress scheduled for
JIANG ZEMIN: “SETTLING HIS SCORE WITH HISTORY”
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Beijing cadres call it "settling one's score with history." This high-sounding term, however, refers to something much more mundane: ways by which a senior official ensures
JIANG ZEMIN: CHALLENGED ON BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN FRONTS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Jovial appearances and upbeat media reports to the contrary, President Jiang Zemin is hardly a happy man. And socioeconomic problems--particularly the adverse impact of accession to
TAIWAN’S UPCOMING ELECTIONS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam As with Taiwan elections for the past several years, President Jiang Zemin has set up a special task force of civilian and military aides to monitor
PRC FOREIGN POLICY OUTLOOK
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam PRC Vice President Hu Jintao's relatively high-profile trip to five European countries has raised two basic questions about Chinese foreign policy.
WIDENING THE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam The United States and its allies are opposed to terrorism. The Chinese, however, are opposed to "all forms of terrorism." Or, as Chinese President Jiang Zemin
SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS: A MATTER OF DEBATE
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Was September 11 good for Sino-American relations? It's still a matter of hot debate among Chinese cadres and intellectuals. The so-called Mainstream Faction in Beijing thinks
THE TERROR ATTACK AND CHINA’S DEEPER CONCERNS
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Beijing hopes to benefit from Washington's war on terrorism on two primary fronts: mending fences with the United States and gaining ground on Taiwan.
POST BEDAIHE: NO CONSENSUS ON PRC LEADERSHIP
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam They are never reported in the official New China News Agency. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or government spokesmen would not even confirm that the so-called Beidaihe
ATTACK ON TAIWAN: HOW LIKELY?
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam While considered an unlikely eventuality by most China and Taiwan experts, the use of force--or at least its threat--has proven to be one of Beijing's most
CHINA-TAIWAN MILITARY THREAT UNLIKELY
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam Chinese military forces have just finished an elaborate war game off the Fujian coast that involved more than 100,000 crack troops as well as the latest
STORM CLOUDS OVER BEIDAIHE
They are never reported in the official New China News Agency. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or government spokesmen would not even confirm that the so-called Beidaihe conferences exist. Yet every
REFORMING POLITICAL STRUCTURE IN CHINA: WHICH ROAD TO TAKE
By Willy Wo-Lap Lam One of the favorite sayings in Beijing's political circles compares the achievements of the three "leadership cores." "Mao Zedong, the core of the first generation leadership,