Can China return to the days of Deng Xiaoping?

Every time I read geopolitical analysis of China, there seems to be two contrasting views of what is happening in that country.

- ELFREN S. CRUZ

It also seems like there is no single analysis on how to assess the rule of Xi Jinping.

Sometimes, we hear that Xi is the reincarnation of Mao Zedong and has near total power. At other times, some observers believe that Xi is on the verge of being ousted in a coup.

There are also contrasting views on the state of China’s economy. One view is that China will overtake the United States before the end of this decade. Then there is the other view that China does not seem to be making any headway in its desire to overtake the US.

Personally, I believe that Deng Xiaoping, who introduced economic reforms and liberal policies beginning in the late 1970s, was the leader most responsible for China’s rise as a superpower. According to China analyst Jonathan Czin: “When Xi took the reins of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, many observers inside and outside China were frustrated with the stalled reforms of his predecessor Hu Jintao.

Most of the original supporters of Xi hoped that he would continue the market-oriented policies of Deng. They also hoped that he would continue to reduce state intervention in the economy and even allow more political freedom. It would seem from the readings about the early years of Xi that he seemed to be a reformer and pursued the reforms which had slowed down under Hu.