Sir — This refers to the editorial, “XI BEATS X” (February 27). China’s ruling Communist Party has proposed removing a Constitutional clause limiting presidential service to two consecutive terms — potentially allowing Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely. His tightening grip on China had already earned the leader comparisons to Mao Zedong (sociologists recall China’s last experiment with a one-man system with a shudder), but they came into even sharper focus after the party paved way for him to assume the presidency indefinitely.
For a world, which was more worried about Donald Trump’s presidency, this decision is all set to have an even more profound impact on the global order. Xi wants to make China the pre-eminent global power and he is convinced of his own destined role in making it a reality. He has already removed most of his political opponents in his aggressive anti-corruption drive and has sought a fuller control of the military.
Given India’s marginal military strength compared to China, it should learn to leverage the surplus trade balance that Beijing enjoys with it to hold a higher ground.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale’s visit to Beijing could be a stepping stone for assessing whether a window has again opened for India to seek partial redemption of its global interests, including membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and peaceful coexistence in the neighbourhood.