U.S. Responses to China's Foreign Influence Operations

At the 19th Communist Party Congress, Xi Jinping proclaimed a new era when China would realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and move closer to center stage and to make greater contributions to mankind. Part of the contributions Xi intends to make to mankind is the spread of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He says it is a new option for other countries and nations who want to speed their development while preserving their independence. For a time, this Chinese model meant a compromise between Communist leadership and a free market principle. Under Xi Jinping, it has increasingly become a byword for one-man authoritarian rule. At the close of the National People's Congress, Xi revisited the themes of his party Congress speech but with some major differences. This time he spoke having dissolved his own term limits and [in] sharply militaristic tones, saying, "We are resolved to fight the bloody battle against our enemies." State media has begun referring to him as Mao Zedong's title helmsman and fake elected representatives wept in the audience in a Pyongyang-style display of reverence. Xi is confirming the free world's greatest fears about what he might attempt to do with China's growing power. This is something we all need to be aware of. To accomplish rejuvenation at home and recast the world order in an authoritarian mold, China, under Xi, is making concerted efforts to attain great power, status, and adopting some great power behaviors along the way.