Letters | ‘I am Xi, follow me’ doctrine pushing China towards a centralisation that stifles innovation and creativity

Hong Kong’s story shows that diversity and flexibility lead to success, but China’s leader is moving towards rigid authority instead

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First night of the Chinese Lantern Festival to mark the end of the 2018 Lunar New Year celebrations, at a park in Auckland, New Zealand. China should not forget that the key to success is maximum diversity, as symbolised by the 12 animals of the zodiac. Photo: New Zealand Herald

Published: 2:01pm, 5 Feb 2019Updated: 2:00pm, 5 Feb 2019

I refer to your Insight article, “Show of strength” (January 30), where Deng Yuwen says developments in China during 2018 indicated that the centralisation of power in President Xi Jinping’s hands was complete. Accordingly, the doctrine of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” was enshrined in both state and party constitutions, with the aim to set a series of national goals for 2050.

This article reports that, at a recent Politburo meeting, President Xi advised members to strictly uphold the “Ten Commandments” – as in “four consciousnesses” with “four self-confidences” and “two maintenances”. But it would appear that there is also an overriding 11th commandment: “I’m Xi – follow me”.

Such a strong centralisation normally leads to a structural rigidity that stifles the flexibility and creativity necessary to carry a society successfully forward. In former times, Hong Kong well-illustrated that maximum diversity is the key. There is always immeasurably more life in a jungle than a plantation. The Lunar New Year is a celebration of such diversity represented by the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Charlie Chan, Mid-Levels