Wen-Ti Sung’s Post

Interesting perspective on Renmin University's new 'School of Global Leadership'. While the timing certainly raises questions along with a slim chance that the results were actually anticipated, it's also an opportunity to showcase China's increasing focus on contributing to global governance. As a student here, I attest that Renmin in recent months has been at the forefront of organizing various forums, events on global governance and cooperation. #china #leadership #globalgovernance

#Politics | The imminent #US presidential election will be set in stone in three weeks. Li Cheng, professor of political science and founding director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World (CCCW) at The University of Hong Kong, delivered a lecture titled “The US Election and the Sino-US Competition” at the “GBA Master Class” at HKU Business School Shenzhen Campus on Sunday. Living in the U.S. for 38 years, the former director at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Centre analyzed three structural contradictions of Sino-US relations and further proposed four measures for China to seek consensus in Sino-US co-existence. Key points of the lecture - Despite nuances of votes in swing states, Trump would probably have a narrow victory - Both the Republican and Democratic parties would be tough on China in different ways - Prof. Li proposes four measures to tackle the China-US relations - ASEAN countries can contribute to easing China-US geopolitical tension Full article: https://lnkd.in/g9qRrjtd

🇨🇳 Communist Party orders cells to study Xi Jinping Thought and learn speeches China’s ruling Communist Party is making the study of President Xi Jinping’s political thoughts a top priority for all party cells across the country, ordering them to conduct regular sessions to learn his speeches and instructions. The general office of the party’s decision-making Central Committee issued a notice to all party organs across China on, detailing compulsory learning activities to be conducted regularly. The latest notice from Beijing tells all party committees and groups that their first priority is learning Xi’s speeches, and they should benchmark all their major strategies and policies against the party chief’s instructions. #China

2016: The Issue of Cadres is the Key to Governing China

The Day China Wants Us to Forget 35 years ago, the world watched in horror as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) violently suppressed the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square. Thousands of students and citizens had gathered peacefully to demand democratic reforms and economic freedom, only to be met with brutal force. The CCP's response, involving live ammunition and tanks, resulted in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent protesters and the arrest of many more. A lasting image from this dark day is that of "Tank Man," an unidentified individual who stood alone in defiance, blocking a column of tanks. This courageous act became a powerful symbol of resistance against oppression, capturing the world's attention and highlighting the sheer brutality of the CCP's crackdown. This tragic event revealed the CCP's deep-seated fear and intolerance of any form of freedom, be it political or economic. In the aftermath, hardline leaders like Jiang Zemin rose to power, ruthlessly purging reformists and focusing solely on economic growth while stifling political freedoms. The regime’s actions highlighted its commitment to maintaining absolute control, regardless of the human cost. The Tiananmen Square Massacre remains a grim reminder of the CCP's relentless suppression of dissent. This atrocity underscores the importance of economic freedom as a precursor to political freedom, and the need for robust and adaptable political institutions to foster a truly prosperous and free society.

CCP propaganda to some… National pride to some others. Xinhua News Agency, from June 25 to July 2, published a series of articles chronicling the great achievements under Xi, as he led the party, PLA, and the Chinese people in the quest to accomplish comprehensively deepening reforms in this new era (展现新时代全面深改伟大成就). This pronounced promulgation by Xinhua comes as the country continues to weather a soft and uneven economy, leading up to the anticipated third plenum next month. #china #politics #reforms #economy https://lnkd.in/gvuKNXKm

In his recent article for The Conversation, Rajawali's Tony Saich breaks down the latest plenum from the China Communist Party and explains the path forward for the country Read more from his thoughts here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eFqAXbPF

Join Mukulika Banerjee, Kerry Brown and Vince Cable on Tuesday 26 March 2024, 6.30pm to 8.00pm for an event on 'Governing Superstates: China and India' hosted by LSE School of Public Policy 📅 The problems of governing ‘superstates’ with populations of 1.4 billion people are of a different scale from others. A key question is how much decentralisation is possible and is happening. Too much and centrifugal forces can build up leading to secession and conflict; too little and the problems of over-centralisation - congested decision making; lack of innovation - can become acute. How have China and India managed this balance and what is the trend? Both countries have recently moved in the direction of more authoritarian government under a dominant party and a ’strongman’ leader supposedly to make government more effective. Is that true? And at what cost? How far are they now stuck with what the Chinese call the ‘bad Emperor’ problem? https://lnkd.in/eQynQfCi

Here it comes. Taiwan's ex-President Ma Ying-jeou this morning calls on Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te to: 1. observe the ROC constitution & "One China framework" 2. reaffirm 2 sides of TW Strait are not two countries 3. ditch Taiwan independence 4. return to 92 'Consensus'. 5. pursue cross-strait exchanges with equality & dignity. Ma added that his meeting with Xi meant Xi Jinping extending an olive branch towards Taiwan. And he hopes Taiwan's next leader Lai will "reciprocate" pragmatically. I touched on these in an interview with CNN last week, about Ma-Xi summit’s likely effects of: a) Highlight shared cross-strait bonds, b) Exert pressure on Lai administration, c) Open the way for more winning hearts & minds-oriented exchanges, etc. (Ma followed-up with his Facebook post today that he will keep pushing for more youth exchanges, and that he will invite PRC students to visit Taiwan very soon.)

Comparative Politics and Political Change: what Works and Why? https://lnkd.in/ej4VgVpQ “A Republic, if you can keep it.” Bejamin Franklin. When I was in graduate school, I took a course on comparative political systems. The course readings seemed to favor the parliamentary system, and I took a bit of an exception to it. While writing Politics, Politicians, and Accountability, I thought about it again. The Difference Between Parliamentary and Presidential Form of Government website provides a useful comparison between the two systems. There is a cultural component to a state’s government. If the culture does not support the form of government, the government will collapse. The exception is when the country has an aspirational government, the people's support and a mentor willing to help build the cultural and educational basis for that government. The US and South Korea and Taiwan are good examples. The truth test of a “good” government is whether the government enables the people to achieve prosperity, peace, and stability. This is clear—the government is an enabling function and not an end in itself. A democracy that does not enable prosperity, peace, and stability is perhaps worse than a tribal system that enables them. #comparativepolitics #parliamentarysystem #constitutionarepublic #federalism #culture