What the Floods Say About Xi Jinping
China’s leader behaves more like an emperor than a man of the people.
TL;DR
- Xi Jinping did not visit the site of a major Himalayan flood, unlike his predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao who engaged directly with national disasters.
- Xi's absence contrasts with U.S. politicians who are expected to be visible during crises.
- His lack of visible engagement is linked to his immense personal power, which allows him to disregard public approval and operational risks.
- Xi's government is managing information from the disaster zone, and he is likely to visit only after the initial chaos has subsided.
- His behavior is described as emperor-like, detached from the daily struggles and sentiments of Chinese citizens.
- Xi's policies demonstrate hostility toward minorities, suggesting the flood-affected Tibetan region is not a priority for his direct attention.